Whakatāne 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.
Diversify revenue sources by exploring new revenue streams to reduce dependence on rates income.
Ensure a transparent and fair rating system to reflect community values and affordability, while balancing the funding of essential services.
Exert downward pressure on rates by prioritising affordability for residents and local businesses.
Review the council's property portfolio with a view to reducing debt by offloading redundant property stock.
Support the broad call from councils that government returns the GST on rates back to ratepayers.
Support the call for real rates reform that delivers new tools to councils and acknowledges decades of underfunding.
Advocate for more tools for alternative revenue streams for councils, including return of GST charged on rates.
View all council decision-making through a lens of affordable rates and debt reduction.
Diversify revenue sources by exploring new revenue streams to reduce dependence on rates income.
Ensure a transparent and fair rating system to reflect community values and affordability, while balancing the funding of essential services.
Exert downward pressure on rates by prioritising affordability for residents and local businesses.
Review the council's property portfolio with a view to reducing debt by offloading redundant property stock.
Support the broad call from councils that government returns the GST on rates back to ratepayers.
Support the call for real rates reform that delivers new tools to councils and acknowledges decades of underfunding.
Advocate for more tools for alternative revenue streams for councils, including return of GST charged on rates.
View all council decision-making through a lens of affordable rates and debt reduction.
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