Council returns unspent $60k to ratepayers

no longer needed ratepayer funding.

He said the group had pointed out secretarial and support functions had been absorbed by the council since it formed in 2009, and the group was chaired by Marlborough Sounds ward councillors, who were funded by general rates.

‘‘There was also very little call on the funds being raised via the [targeted] rate.’’

The rate collected $1.20 per Picton ward ratepayer a year, totalling $5750 each year, but years of ‘‘unexpended funds’’ had left $60,000 sitting in reserves.

Last year the group – which included representatives from the Queen Charlotte Sound, Ngakuta Bay, Bay of Many Coves, Whatamango Bay, and Karaka Point – voted unanimously that the council should return the funds to ratepayers.

‘‘This was based on the premise that the funds had been raised for a stated purpose and, if that purpose was no longer valid, the funds should be remitted back to their source,’’ Heiford said in a report to last week’s council meeting.

The group, previously called the Picton Ward Forum, was formed to ‘‘enhance consultation and information sharing’’ between Picton residents and the council. It was now one of three community groups in the portside town, alongside Picton Business Group and Picton Smart and Connected.

Group member Monyeen Wedge, of the Queen Charlotte Residents Association, said she supported the money’s return last year because it was a ‘‘great idea’’.

‘‘Some houses will not be owned by the same people, but what can you do?’’

Tirimoana resident Bryan Strong said he voted to return the funds because the group was accumulating money, but had no projects to funnel it into.

‘‘I think people will be quite happy, when they learn it will be returned,’’ he said.

Picton businessman John Reuhman said he had voted in favour of returning the funds, because the group no longer needed a target rate, thanks to the council’s help.

Council chief financial officer Martin Fletcher did not disclose how the $60,000 would be returned, but said it would ‘‘benefit the current property owners’’.

Heiford’s report said returning the funds was an advantage to the council as it would clear the reserve, but also a disadvantage, as the funds could be put towards projects, like the Picton’s development strategy redo for $200,000.

Councillor Mark Peters said at a planning, fiance and community meeting on Thursday he supported the refund, and that it equated to about $12 a ratepayer.

‘‘It’s not a lot of money, but it’s the principal of the thing,’’ he said.

Marlborough Sounds ward councillor and deputy mayor Nadine Taylor agreed.

‘‘The council rates for a purpose, and if that purpose is no longer being used, then the funds raised should go back to our ratepayers,’’ she said.

The council agreed to refund the funds, but the decision still had to be adopted at the 2020-21 annual plan budget meeting on February 27.