Budgeting help

Federated Farmers is gearing up to assist members and farmers with local authorities, including the Far North District Council, revealing their long-term plans and budgets. In the next two months the federation will make 68 submissions across the country and has prepared a policy guide to help its 24 provinces navigate council plans with particular focus on rates. Federated Farmers national president Katie Milne believes this year’s long term plans will again highlight that council ratepayer bases are at their limits of affordability. “The high cost of local government rates to farming will in particular increase the pressure already on government to revise how local government is funded, assisting ratepayers and councils with a share of GST revenue to reduce the effect of property value rates,” she said.