Clutha council baulks at paying museum levy
THE Clutha District Council has refused to pay its full share of next year’s funding for Otago Museum in Dunedin, but Mayor Bryan Cadogan says the decision is based on principle, not money.
The council has long argued the amount it is required to pay is unfair.
The Clutha council (CDC) this week declined to sign a draft agreement with the other Otago councils which determined how much each would contribute to Otago Museum.
Under the Museum Trust Board Act 1996, the Dunedin City Council and the Clutha, Waitaki and Central Otago district councils are required to contribute annual funding to the museum.
What portion of the levy, determined by the Otago Museum Trust Board, each contributes is agreed by the four councils in negotiations every 10 years and is in part determined by population and each council’s proximity to the museum.
In the draft agreement for the 201819 year, thrashed out by the mayors, it was agreed the CDC would reduce its contribution from the $181,570.20 paid previously to $157,482.78.
The reduction was possible because Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), which previously contributed nothing, agreed to pay about $30,000.
At the CDC meeting, Cr John Cochrane proposed the council contribute the minimum required by the Act, which would be about $121,000. The council agreed, despite a warning from council chief executive Steve Hill about going back on the agreement.
Crs Geoff Blackmore, Gaynor Finch and Bruce Vollweiler strongly opposed reducing the council’s contribution. Cr Vollweiler said he believed the motion would be a breach of faith.
But Cr Cochrane said going back to the Act might put pressure on other councils to consider paying what was fair.
‘‘We will never change anything if we don’t change our own thinking.’’
Mr Cadogan said yesterday the CDC’s intention was not to load the costs on to the DCC but to seek a ‘‘fair and equitable’’ contribution that was proportionate across the region.
‘‘This is not about money. It’s about principle.’’
The only avenue left was to challenge the statute.
DCC chief executive Sue Bidrose said councils spent a ‘‘chunk of time’’ trying to reach an agreement and would now have to renegotiate the figures at the next mayoral forum.
Mr Cadogan would need to explain why the council was not convinced the agreement was fair or a step in the right direction.
Most councils agreed Clutha’s contribution was quite high in proportion, she said.
‘‘All of the mayors agreed this was a really good first step.’’
The Act stipulates any shortfall not met by the district councils will be covered by the Dunedin City Council.
The DCC could have to pay between $30,000 and $61,000 more in 201819 if the QLDC’s contribution changed in the new agreement.
Otago Museum Trust Board chairman Graham Crombie said it was up to each council to decide how much it would pay for the museum.