Mayor of Waitomo
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.
Explore new revenue opportunities that reduce reliance on rates while supporting essential services.
Review council spending with residents to ensure funds are used effectively and transparently.
Work with the community to understand more fair rates that reflect local priorities and ability to pay.
Drive hard at the governance table to maintain rate increases lower than or as close as possible to the level of inflation.
Ensure a prudent approach to council expenditure with attention to core business as council's focus.
Maintain a cautious approach to increasing debt, ensuring such debt does not impose an unrealistic burden on future ratepayers.
Bring proven Waste and Efficiency and Supply Chain Team practices to the council–Inframax relationship, delivering benefits for council, Inframax and the community.
Find the best compromises to balance affordable rates and the expenditure needed to provide for community needs now and in the future.
Make rates fair, with costs matching benefits. Explore better models and stop using uniform annual general charges to unfairly load higher-valued homes and farms.
Focus on core services, investing in what communities actually need, allowing opportunity to pay down debt.
Pause all future works not started, assess need and timing, and reduce the need to debt fund projects.
Tighten spending and find savings where possible to reduce the impact of rates.
Explore new revenue opportunities that reduce reliance on rates while supporting essential services.
Review council spending with residents to ensure funds are used effectively and transparently.
Work with the community to understand more fair rates that reflect local priorities and ability to pay.
Drive hard at the governance table to maintain rate increases lower than or as close as possible to the level of inflation.
Ensure a prudent approach to council expenditure with attention to core business as council's focus.
Maintain a cautious approach to increasing debt, ensuring such debt does not impose an unrealistic burden on future ratepayers.
Bring proven Waste and Efficiency and Supply Chain Team practices to the council–Inframax relationship, delivering benefits for council, Inframax and the community.
Find the best compromises to balance affordable rates and the expenditure needed to provide for community needs now and in the future.
Make rates fair, with costs matching benefits. Explore better models and stop using uniform annual general charges to unfairly load higher-valued homes and farms.
Focus on core services, investing in what communities actually need, allowing opportunity to pay down debt.
Pause all future works not started, assess need and timing, and reduce the need to debt fund projects.
Tighten spending and find savings where possible to reduce the impact of rates.
Mayor
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