Waikato rates 6.24%
A 6.24 per cent rate increase is looking likely for Waikato District residents.
Waikato District Council adopted its long-term plan 2018-28 consultation document on Wednesday.
The plan proposes a general rate increase of 6.24 per cent from July.
In addition, there will be increases in targeted rates for localised services such as water supply and refuse collections.
Rates are going up because of the district’s growth and the rising cost of council work, council said in a statement.
The Waikato District is the third-fastest growing district in the country, Mayor Allan Sanson said.
Council has to maintain a fine balance between spending to support growth and maintaining affordability, Sanson said.
Over the next 10 years, the district’s population is expected to increase by more than 12,000 – almost as much as the populations of its largest towns, Huntly and Nga¯ruawa¯hia, combined.
The number of its homes is also expected to increase by 20 per cent - about 6500 - by 2028.
‘‘We want to put more effort and resources into ensuring we shape our growth so we create communities that people feel connected to and want to live in,’’ Sanson said.
‘‘We have set aside $100,000 a year for the next 10 years to develop master plans for our key growth areas to ensure our investments deliver real value to our community in an affordable way and in a way that helps build a sense of community as our district grows.’’
Council’s 10-year plan aims to balance the need to spend on infrastructure and to develop it to accommodate growth, Sanson said.