Rates are going up about 10 per cent for most homeowners in the Tauranga City Council area.
The increase is the third of the council's programme of rates increases intended to pull the city out of debt.
Three years ago when this programme was put to ratepayers, the preference was to increase rates instead of having residents pay more through increased charges for council services like library fees.
The expectation at the start of the process was that this year's rates increase would be 14.4 per cent, but councillors trimmed $33 million dollars off the capital works budget in the annual plan process.
The average household rate is expected to increase 10.4 per cent.
The uniform annual charge is $670 per rateable unit.
The general rate is $0.00195614 in the dollar on the capital value of each rateable unit.
The economic development rate levied on every commercial property in the city is $0.00045455.
The metered water supply rate is $1.58 per cubic metre. The unmetered water supply charge is $588.
The sewerage charge is $330 for each residential property and $330 for each toilet or urinal in a commercial property.
Properties not connected to the city sewers still have to pay $165.
The Lakes uniform targeted rate for additional levels of service is $244.76 per rateable unit. The Papamoa targeted rate is also $274.76. The Excelsa targeted rate for that Papamoa subdivision is $129.33.
8 comments
Bureaucratic parasitism
Posted on 23-06-2011 13:37 | By SpeakUp
It is not the expenditure for infrastructure that is the problem but the misappropriation of public funds for bureaucracy of a system, which is totally over-regulated, vastly inefficient, generally wasteful and designed to fill the coffers of administrators and their lackeys. You just need to look up the names of ‘administrators' responsible for the last two decades to know the culprits of the mess Tauranga is in now. If I look at their general amateurish attitude, the lack of political, historical and economical knowledge, and the old-boy-club mentality that has been rife in the ruling circles, I bet they do not feel the slightest shame for their wretched governance, or for their theft of rate-money usurped by crony corporate and private projects or for their fiscally careless spendthrift. Ignorance is bliss. …So far. SpeakUp -Citizens Monitoring Council-
kapa
Posted on 23-06-2011 14:08 | By kapa
Just how do the Council think people are going to be able to squeeze even more money out of so many overstretched budgets. The large majority of people who have struggled to buy their own homes and look after themselves cannot afford any more rate hikes, are we all supposed to live in rented accommodation on benefits? The Council just needs to stop spending altogether, no new roads,libraries, stadiums or swimming pools. Just maintain what we have and we will all willingly make do.
FLEECED AGAIN
Posted on 23-06-2011 15:05 | By michael
We continue to pay dearly for the honour of living in a desirable area and one almosts feels that the Council are proud of their achievement of keeping the increase to ONLY 10.4%. This is a continuation of double figure annual increases and the danger here is that our decision makers,having set this precedent, will continue this trend in succeeding years. Remember also, that the rate struck,excludes water and refuse collection, and the Government picks up extra GST. Hopefully the suggestion of the introduction of a Land Tax remains in limbo, otherwise we may as well sell up and rent. My simple economic knowledge tells me that overcommitment calls for reforms and responsible planning. The Council could start by seriously looking at reducing the top heavy bureaucracy and respect the wishes of an increasingly destitute population. Unfortunately we will complain, reluctantly accept the increases, do nothing, whilst our overpaid representatives sit back basking in smug self satisfaction.
Not Surprised
Posted on 23-06-2011 15:12 | By Jitter
One of the main reasons rates continue to rise at such a pace is the continued involvement of TCC in "businesses" that should be left to the private sector. TCC should stick to core council services eg water, sewage, roads etc which has been said many times before. They should also cease to use consultants for every little task they carry out and use the experts/specialists they must have amongst their 500 odd staff. If they continue to use consultants then staff numbers through a major staff audit should be reduced to around 250 persons. I'm afraid Speakup is right when they say that TCC has a "general amatuerish atitude". I hope (without much conviction) that the new CEO will straighten TCC out and run it on an even keel with sensible financial governence. The last CEO certainly did not and had far to much influence and input into council decisions.
it all costs - in the end.
Posted on 23-06-2011 15:55 | By steve_of_greerton
Tauranga has grown massively in the past 10 years and in that time has tried to add all the infrastructure required of a sizeable city. The problem is that other sizable cities grew their infrastructure over many decades and not without problems but Tauranga has simply gone too far too fast and is now left with this overhang. And its not like there wasn't any warnings either, but we're still going to have to pay for it all...in the end.
Being very very honest here
Posted on 23-06-2011 18:54 | By Nigel Barker
and I am being very very honest. Not politician honest. Simple, genuine, caring, sincere, up front, human being, battler from struggle street "HONEST". Yea I have read the headline ... "BUTT" for the life of me I just can not find the courage to read the article. Am I sounding like a Mayor or MP or Councillor ... most of the time they can not find courage either. Am I in good company...? Maybe I need to go have a look around town to see if I can find some balls. Actually 'The Warehouse' will have some... Cheap maybe. But then balls are balls are they not?? Then and only Then - I 'MAY' read what has been said. God please ... ooops Mr Mayor please ... ooo ummm bugger ... is it God or Mr Mayor ??? Who ever, PLEASE give me the strength to "bury head in sand" & give em the 'bottoms up' to enable me to battle "Being Bashed Bruised Bullied Beaten Belittled By Belligerent Bureaucratic Behaviour". Stuart what ever 'YOU' (and it is about 'YOU' cos you are "The Boss" aye??) have to say above, 'YOU' will have earned "points". Question is matey, are they browny points or gold points?? In the mean time I will take counsel with other within ~ - Citizens Monitoring Council -
opps, not quite right!
Posted on 24-06-2011 08:57 | By Murray.Guy
"... but councillors trimmed $33 million dollars off the capital works budget in the annual plan process." Staff actually did the trimming. When it came before Elected Members to deliberate on the information and recommendations provided by staff, coupled with submissions by the community, we actually added to the rating requirement. The projected 17.4% rate increase was reduced 7% or so with a simple deferment of $6.2 million of debt repayment.
TCC Staff are sticking it to you wannabes
Posted on 25-06-2011 08:28 | By CONDOR
CR. GUY I think you have been somewhat hoodwinked. The so called $33m said to be shaved off is a mirage because in real terms it never existed.The phantom savings made are illusionary. TCC Council staff and TCC Councillors would not know which end is up let alone have the nous to reduce debt.Deferring debt repayment isn't that the Greeks problem and we know where they are going to take it.
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