From the Mayor and Chief Executive
It's time to have your say on our draft Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-34
Our last LTP predicted an average rates increase of 4.96% for 2024/25. The plan presented proposes an increase of 15.5% for the same year.
What is driving this increase? The last LTP was written against the backdrop of COVID-19, which was a time of record low interest rates and when the economy was facing significant recession and unemployment risks, all of which were keeping costs down. This year is very different. Record inflation and long periods of labour shortages have upwardly driven the costs we as a council face, and also those experienced by our ratepayers, to record highs.
Furthermore, since the last LTP we have gone through significant reforms regarding Three Waters and the Resource Management Act, only to have these reforms cancelled following the 2023 general election. This means costs that had been deferred until councils had certainty regarding the new reform requirements, as well as costs that were meant to be carried by a new water entity independent of council, have now come back into the equation.
In light of all of this, councillors have spent a record number of hours going through every budget, line by line, and made it their priority to find ways to continue delivering services without having to pass through the full impact of rising costs.
In summary, it is very much a ‘back to basics’ approach and throughout the plan you will see references to ‘keeping the beat’. What this means is that council is trying its hardest to minimise the impact of additional costs on the community, without going backwards.
Part of this consultation process is our question to you:
Do you think we could save any more? Is there anything we are currently providing that you think we should reduce or drop to save some cost? Or is there something you think should be added, a service that needs enhancing perhaps? We are keen to hear your views.