Tauranga City Council is accepting public submissions on its draft Annual Plan.
The council has made $33 million of savings by deferring and/or cutting back on some planned expenditure, but agrees it must continue much of its planned programme of infrastructure development for existing and future growth needs.
Council communications manager Elizabeth Hughes says Tauranga City is managing its budget conservatively in the face of the global financial crisis, which has slowed down growth in the city. She also says the approach is ensuring city debt is kept to a prudent level.
The draft Annual Plan proposes an average rates increase, per property, of 10.4 per cent.
Some of the major projects finishing this year are the Baypark Arena, the Southern Pipeline and the Arataki Community Centre.
Particular issues the council would like feedback on include the Weathertight Homes Assistance Package, the Elms, the Botanic Gardens on Millers Road and the Clarke Street Elder Village.
More information on each of these issues can be found at www.tauranga.govt.nz or in the full document available in libraries and the main service centre in Willow Street.
Submission forms are in the libraries or available at www.tauranga.govt.nz with a feedback closing date of April 21.
5 comments
Growth mantra
Posted on 23-03-2011 18:52 | By ronillian
Perhaps the TCC has finally learned that debt-financing inevitably creates trouble once growth slows or stops. One hopes they'll also learn that pouring money into roading is misguided and the money would be better spent on alternative means of transport like Public transport, cycleways and walkways. How about some policies that prepare us for the huge changes that will accompany peak oil? It is no longer possible to predict the future by extrapolating from the past. A paradigm shift is called for but that would require some creative proactive thinking by our leaders at all levels of govt and some major reorganisation of priorites.
bikes...
Posted on 23-03-2011 22:59 | By Mr bay
The TCC could buy us all bikes...would help with obesity to....
Submissions?
Posted on 24-03-2011 13:55 | By SpeakUp
Why don't you go by COMMON SENSE and spend only what Tauranga citizens can afford? Answer: because the council can hide behind the wall of apathy and naivety of the majority of voters. Opposition to undue spending is received but not taken into consideration whereas TCC chums and lobbyists 'work' their plans. Common sense and bureaucracy...yeah, right! This bureaucratic landscape should be called 'common filth' really. "A nation of sheep will be governed by wolves." ---Edward R. Murrow---
reality check
Posted on 24-03-2011 16:33 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
There is no growth and there won't be for maybe 10 years. The only growth is people leaving for Australia which has great facilities and pay to match
A paradigm shift - but not what You are thinking
Posted on 24-03-2011 20:52 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
@SpeakUp: You said it in ONE! A perfect example of democracy - the counting of heads and not their content (ie the Majority) @G Gillickers: You forgot to mention COUNCIL - that is a growth industry. @ Ronillian: you say THIS: "A paradigm shift is called for but that would require some creative proactive thinking by our leaders at all levels of govt and some major reorganisation of priorites." - Apart from the fact that our leaders are incapable of of proactive thinking - because they are all a product of the government-run brainwashing system" I agree - but not the way YOU are thinking! - You hint at CONTINUED (tried and failed) council interference by CONTINUING to STEAL money from ratepayers, and CONTINUE spending it on STUFF that the MAJORITY (ie the WOLVES) demand. The Paradigm shift I am thinking of is GET RID OF COUNCIL out of ALL non-essential services, leaving only rubbish, water and roading. Let private enterprise deliver what the MARKET DEMANDS - all free of compulsion and responsibility.
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