Tauranga City Council is $1million better off compared to 2008 after the recent rates intake.
Rates were due on August 28 and currently there is $4million still outstanding, compared to the $5million outstanding at the same rates intake last year.

This year's rates arrears equate to about 10 per cent of the rates total and last year's amounted to 14 per cent.
David Peterson, Tauranga City Council business information manager, says it's a great result considering the current economic climate and this year's 9.7 per cent rates rise.
'The $4million balance will come down quite quickly over the next few months, so that balance usually settles at around three per cent,” says David.
He says ratepayers this year were more aware of the due dates, the rates increases and the penalties that would apply if they did not pay their rates on time.
'The important thing is that people who missed payment need to know that penalties will be added to their accounts and they need to ring us to organise a payment schedule,” says David.