Local Government Funding Agency
The Local Government Funding Agency will be a source of council funding in the future, with savings on interest to go towards reducing general rate increases each year.
Transitional rates remission
A transitional rates remission policy was adopted for a two year period to help address increases in rates brought about by the merging of two rating systems and the alignment of valuation dates.
Grants
As a result of submissions, operating grants have been added across the 10 years of the plan for the Waikato Coalfields, Raglan and Tuakau Museums, at $50,000, $20,000 and $5,000 respectively. The following organisations will receive one-off grants for 2012/13:
- The Ngaruawahia Volunteer Fire Brigade $25,000
- St John Te Kauwhata $25,000
- Ngaruawahia Community House $15,000
- Opus Orchestra $2,000
- Waikato River Alive $7,000
A further $5,000 per year from 2012/13-2015/16 has been allocated from the council’s events fund to help support the FIFA under 20’s World Cup.
Community board targeted rates
The council decided that the direct costs of running the Onewhero-Tuakau, Huntly, Taupiri, Ngaruawahia, and Raglan community boards will be recovered through a uniform targeted rate for each of those communities.
Economic development
After weighing up the feedback on economic development initiatives, the council decided to redirect existing budgets into an in-house economic development resource. By working closely with businesses, the development sector and other groups in the community, the council can ensure it contributes to helping create jobs through its core business functions.
Development Contributions Policy
As a result of submissions, the conversion rates for non-residential developments within the policy have changed; the factors for roading will go down, but the three waters factors increase. The council also revised their growth assumptions to reflect actual development activity and staging. The approach to growth is still conservative.
Dog control
All dog owners will be presumed to be ‘approved’ unless they prove otherwise within a 12-month period by incurring infringements. That means an $85 fee, with a $20 discount for payment before 1 August. Fees go up for those owners who incur infringements. Dog owners who meet specific conditions may be eligible as “selected” owners and will pay lower fees accordingly.
Warm-up New Zealand Heat Smart scheme
The proposal for a voluntary rate to help home-owners take advantage of this scheme will not go ahead as there was very little interest from the community in the proposal.
All decisions and changes from the draft plan are detailed in the final document, which is available online at www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz.
Still 12% water rate increase and all the other increases. Why does the Raglan office need $258,000 spent on it? Is it one of the 2 earthquake prone buildings? I thought the old post office was pulled down because it wasn’t earthquake proof, so I wouldn’t have expected its replacement to have the same problem. Is a self issue machine at Raglan library really worth $142,000? They seem to have forgotten about their promise to increase airfield fees – still $5.50. Water meter charges for next year are still set to leap to an average over $600. Is this something to refer to the Auditor General?
John, you might remember that the library roof leaked very badly some time ago. The money is to rebuild the roof so it doesn’t leak. Probably includes the cost of relocation of the libary and office while this is done.