District faces 8.22 per cent rates rise
Ratepayers in the Gore district will face a 8.22 per cent rates hike, up from the council’s forecast of 7.27 per cent, in the next rating year.
It means that for a Gore residential property with a capital value of $375,000, proposed rates will increase from $3019 this year to $3299 in the next rating year, a 9.27 per cent rise.
A property with a value of $250,000 in Mataura will have an 8.57 per cent increase to $2633, up from $2425 this year.
The council will tomorrow hold an extraordinary meeting to adopt its 10-year plan consultation document and supporting information.
A memo from chief financial officer Lornae Straith, which is included in the agenda, says auditors Deloitte explicitly instructed the council to include inflation on a number of items that had previously been approved through council resolution, and to also include inflation on the first year of the 10-year plan, even though the first year of the plan is less than three months away.
This has taken a forecast rates increase in year one from 7.27 per cent to 8.22 per cent, the report says.
The consultation document, called Ready To Grow, shows the council will seek feedback on the separation of combined urban wastewater and stormwater connections, future plans for the vacant Gore Library building, and future use of the Special Rural Fund.
It lists the Heritage Precinct upgrade and Maruawai Centre Development, roading, infrastructure and the new Gore library and James Cumming Wing Community Centre as significant projects; and the government-led water infrastructure review, climate change and sustainability, rubbish and recycling and investigating the introduction of a less complex rating system as significant issues for the council.
Submissions on the 10-yearplan will be open until Wednesday, May 19.