NP household rates bill rises by 3.95pc

Households are paying a little more than previously forecast under New Plymouth District Council’s rates rise for the year ahead.

Although councillors kept to a 3.95 per cent rise at their extraordinary meeting this week, when they also approved the 2020-21 annual plan, they raised the average residential rate from 2.5 per cent, as proposed in May, to 2.71 per cent. This works out as an increase of about $63.31 per year, or $1.21 a week, on average.

The reason for the change is that the previous rates rise was drawn up before council officers finalised the impact of the 2019 rating re-evaluations – the adjustment of a property’s value. The average commercial and industrial rate has gone up by about $74, while for small holdings the average is around $51, and about $55 for farmland.

The annual plan was signed off only hours before it came into force on Wednesday.

Before Covid, the council had been predicting a 6.47 per cent total rates increase, with a 4.75 per cent average residential rise.

The council’s total rates requirement for the July 1 to June 30, 2021, financial year is $100.16 million, a report to district councillors said.

A rates relief package was approved postCovid, and people struggling to pay their rates can contact the council to discuss their options.

As of June 18, there were 23 applications for six-month deferred payments.

Just over 6000 people were classed as in arrears, but most had arrangements in place to pay their bills in full by the end of June.