Waitaki 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.
Ask the people what they think.
Ensure council manages debt carefully and investigate other forms of funding models, like user pays in some areas, to reduce stress on rates.
Ensure the council delivers the best value for ratepayers' money when undertaking projects.
Focus on ratepayers' money being spent on infrastructure maintenance and upgrades and core services, with fewer nice to have projects.
Keep rates affordable by exploring new revenue streams.
Prioritise essential services and invest where Waitaki gets best value.
Support growth that broadens the rates base without overburdening locals.
Introduce a rates cap.
Minimise or reduce debt by audit.
Reduce rates by reforming.
Develop strategies and partnerships to persuade central government to end unfunded mandates and agree to share its income with councils.
Grow acceptance of the need to use alternative funding sources to keep providing the range and level of services people say they want.
Recognise clear and considerable community concern about large rates rises and commit to reining them in as much as possible.
Ask the people what they think.
Ensure council manages debt carefully and investigate other forms of funding models, like user pays in some areas, to reduce stress on rates.
Ensure the council delivers the best value for ratepayers' money when undertaking projects.
Focus on ratepayers' money being spent on infrastructure maintenance and upgrades and core services, with fewer nice to have projects.
Keep rates affordable by exploring new revenue streams.
Prioritise essential services and invest where Waitaki gets best value.
Support growth that broadens the rates base without overburdening locals.
Introduce a rates cap.
Minimise or reduce debt by audit.
Reduce rates by reforming.
Develop strategies and partnerships to persuade central government to end unfunded mandates and agree to share its income with councils.
Grow acceptance of the need to use alternative funding sources to keep providing the range and level of services people say they want.
Recognise clear and considerable community concern about large rates rises and commit to reining them in as much as possible.
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