Waimakariri District Council
Rates and revenue
The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.
Rates and revenue
The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.
Keep rates low by cutting wasteful projects and focusing on essential services.
Review underused council assets and reinvest funds into infrastructure such as roads and water.
Scrutinise every dollar of spending to guarantee maximum value for ratepayers.
Ensure adequate provision is made to consider impacts of future natural disasters upon the district.
Ensure balance between the district's growth and maintenance needs while ensuring rates affordability going forward.
Use well-managed debt as a necessity to have appropriate infrastructure put in place when needed given the district is rapidly growing.
Deliver nil rate increase in 2027/2028 then limit rate rises to a maximum of inflation level.
Focus on needs not wants and review spending and cut waste.
Keep future ratepayer costs under control by managing debt responsibly.
Advocate for government to start sharing GST on new builds, which would put around $30 million towards reducing rates impact.
Continue to fund depreciation to build up savings to reduce debt over time.
Support investments that ensure the district can cope with growth and remain a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Ensure development contributions offset the costs of new development infrastructure needs so as not to unfairly burden existing ratepayers.
Keep rate increases sustainable for ratepayers and seek government to share some income with council, eg sharing GST on new builds and rates.
Maintain skill levels of staff to reduce the need for external consultants.
Ensure council's procurement policies privilege local business procurement, particularly Māori, Pasifika and sustainable businesses.
Review all spending patterns of council to identify opportunities for more cost-efficient procurement alongside more positive social impact.
Become a Living Wage accredited employer then set policy requiring all suppliers also pay at least the Living Wage to all their employees.
Become a Living Wage accredited employer then set policy requiring all suppliers to pay at least the living wage to all their employees.
Maintain debt at current debt to revenue ratio (134 percent) and provide headroom for a natural disaster, operate within treasury policy and retain AA.
Oppose reducing or waiving development levies to redress past injustices as this is an issue for central government not local government.
Support introduction of development levies so growth pays for growth and a user pay philosophy where community benefits do not apply.
Keep rates low by cutting wasteful projects and focusing on essential services.
Review underused council assets and reinvest funds into infrastructure such as roads and water.
Scrutinise every dollar of spending to guarantee maximum value for ratepayers.
Ensure adequate provision is made to consider impacts of future natural disasters upon the district.
Ensure balance between the district's growth and maintenance needs while ensuring rates affordability going forward.
Use well-managed debt as a necessity to have appropriate infrastructure put in place when needed given the district is rapidly growing.
Deliver nil rate increase in 2027/2028 then limit rate rises to a maximum of inflation level.
Focus on needs not wants and review spending and cut waste.
Keep future ratepayer costs under control by managing debt responsibly.
Advocate for government to start sharing GST on new builds, which would put around $30 million towards reducing rates impact.
Continue to fund depreciation to build up savings to reduce debt over time.
Support investments that ensure the district can cope with growth and remain a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Ensure development contributions offset the costs of new development infrastructure needs so as not to unfairly burden existing ratepayers.
Keep rate increases sustainable for ratepayers and seek government to share some income with council, eg sharing GST on new builds and rates.
Maintain skill levels of staff to reduce the need for external consultants.
Ensure council's procurement policies privilege local business procurement, particularly Māori, Pasifika and sustainable businesses.
Review all spending patterns of council to identify opportunities for more cost-efficient procurement alongside more positive social impact.
Become a Living Wage accredited employer then set policy requiring all suppliers also pay at least the Living Wage to all their employees.
Become a Living Wage accredited employer then set policy requiring all suppliers to pay at least the living wage to all their employees.
Maintain debt at current debt to revenue ratio (134 percent) and provide headroom for a natural disaster, operate within treasury policy and retain AA.
Oppose reducing or waiving development levies to redress past injustices as this is an issue for central government not local government.
Support introduction of development levies so growth pays for growth and a user pay philosophy where community benefits do not apply.
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