Zero rates increase confirmed
Waikato Regional Council has cut its net rate rise to zero in response to
Covid-19.
At a meeting on Wednesday, the council approved its annual budget of
$101.94 million, and signed off a decrease in rates revenue of 0.1 per cent.
Council chair Russ Rimmington said it had to act decisively to protect residents from Covid-19 impacts.
‘‘Residents across our region may be facing long lists of money worries in these tough times, but we were adamant rates rises from the regional council wouldn’t be among them,’’ Rimmington said in a statement.
The council had made savings through capping staff increases and staff pay freezes, rather than service cuts, he said.
‘‘We’ve run the ruler over each budget line to make sure every dollar is working for residents.’’
Rimmington said that $400,000 in rates relief has been added to the budget to support ratepayers facing hardship.
But some ratepayers will still face a moderate rates increase, despite the rates reduction.
Hamilton ratepayers will face increases in targeted rates due to the Hamilton to Auckland passenger rail service and other public transport services.
Lower Waikato and Waihou-Piako ratepayers will also see a rise as a result of catchment rates increases.
However, rate increases originally spread over three years will now occur over six years to minimise costs to residents.
Rimmington has previously pledged the council would backtrack from a scheduled 8 per cent rate rise due to the economic fallout from Covid-19.
But Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford later warned Waikato councils not to slash rates if they wanted Government investment for shovel-ready projects.