Today's 9am Tauranga City Council meeting is adjourned until this afternoon while councillors grapple with the financial ramifications of a decision made earlier this week.
The councillors spent Tuesday at a briefing from staff in closed doors discussion about how and where cuts might be made to the council budget in order to keeps rates to a 2 per cent rise – plus the 4.7 per cent stormwater levy.
Originally expected to be over on Tuesday, the council is now expected to continue working through the issues this morning, with the council meeting now timed to begin sometime between 1pm and 2pm.
Mayor Stuart Crosby was among the four who voted against the decision to incorporate the 4.7 per cent stormwater levy in the Annual Plan discussions, warning that it would affect every subsequent financial decision.
'Obviously that 4.7 per cent is going to require some significant adjustment somewhere, so before the staff go off and write reports relating to issues to achieve that, they need some guidance from elected members,” says Stuart today.
'In essence the decision to add another 4.7 per cent to rates is requiring some significant adjustments somewhere, yet to be identified, I might add.”
See SunLive for a full report after this afternoon's council meeting.
9 comments
How long to they need?
Posted on 05-02-2014 12:09 | By Murray.Guy
Staff have had knowledge of the storm water and flood mitigation direction from elected members for over 6 months, when elected members accepted in full the advice of experts (including staff) in regards the works and budget required. Senior staff are also well aware (albeit not happy being constrained) of the 'rates cap policy'. Okay, the Mayor and CEO wants to throw our money at 'pet projects', but that doesn't justify reneging on critical and core functions of Council.
more boardwalks...
Posted on 05-02-2014 13:05 | By jed
thats the solution. And, wreck the Mt Mainbeach even further with your retaining walls.
PET PROJECTS!
Posted on 05-02-2014 16:04 | By tabatha
To those like the Mayor and the CEO who have pet projects sit on them, they will not burn a hole in your pocket. I thought the CEO took his instructions from Councillors, or should, I do know he is there to advise but it is about time some wings were cut so the money does not fly out of the cage. If he has (The CEO) some pet projects let us hear about them from him not other people. He does need to remember who pays him. The TCC needs to reign in the wish list and provide the real necessities of the city. I am not talking about attractions but safety with flooding and roading etc.
How long did you need?
Posted on 05-02-2014 19:13 | By paci
Murray Guy - you were a councilor for many years - and in a position of influence - what did you do to address the ongoing flooding & storm water issues while you shared the decision making - perhaps if previous councils made better decisions we would not be paying for these mistakes today??
Unfortunately little influence, not in the A team ...
Posted on 06-02-2014 08:37 | By Murray.Guy
Flooding and the failure of Tauranga City Council to firstly take responsibility and apply integrity when dealing with heavy rain events drew my attention to 'things Council' back on March 2001. Neighbours had been flooded, a new home damaged when an adjacent storm water drained failed to cope with heavy rain. A meeting with TCC Staff on site got the response, "The degree of sentiment and vegetation in this drain did not contribute to the flooding overnight in the opinion of TCC." This was the point that confirmed TCC seriously lacked integrity, you see, the drain was so blocked one could barely see the water, the culverts under Courtney Road a 1/4 filled with sediment of the road. Throughout my time as a City Councillor I advocated for a greater storm water spend, and to spend it wisely. Many millions have been spend on 'over-the top consultants solutions'.
Yes Murray
Posted on 06-02-2014 10:55 | By YOGI BEAR
The A-team before was the problem, they were just a bunch of head nodders and they had no idea why they just did it. Result is that no serious questions were asked of TCC staff, no one said anything that might dare question anything they said ... as said by the A-team, TCC staff know what they are doing ...". Quite a strange idea actually because the debt has sky rocketed from $40m in 2001 to over $500m now, yet the lovely comments still come out of TCC even today that all is well ... all is fine ... How wrong does it all have to be before someone on the inside wakes up from the 'dream' and realizes otherwise.
I want others to pay for things I demand
Posted on 06-02-2014 12:10 | By The Tomahawk Kid
Perhaps if previous councils had spent more time and effort doing the essential things properly, and not pandering to all those who demand they be entertained by the council the infrastructure would have been serviced to a higher degree. The nature of democracy means that all those who demand the council to do EVERYTHING for them and put pressure on unprincipled councillors who promise they will spend the money on the projects they demand (libraries, entertainment, etc. These are the councillors that get voted IN. Not the ones who say they will concentrate on core (boring) council matters. There will always be a majority of those who want the council to do everything for them or make others pay for things they demand, and therefore you will ALWAYS get from a council what you get now.
Precisely,
Posted on 06-02-2014 18:23 | By Sambo Returns
Mr Tomahawk, and that is why I said before the last election, "nothing will change", so imagine what your rates would be.... If we sold the city for $450 million, to the Ports Of Tauranga, they know how to turn a profit, let them manage the place, but alas, the Tauranga City Council wages rort, will continue.
im
Posted on 06-02-2014 21:56 | By Capt_Kaveman
not paying any stormwater levy go get the funds from the idiots who did not do their landscaping properly
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