Latest news with #LocalGovernmentCostIndex
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Waimakariri Remains On Track For Rate Rise Under 5%
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter The Waimakariri District Council is expected to stick to its proposed rate rise of 4.98%. Supporting growth by investing in infrastructure is the focus of Waimakariri District Council's annual plan, Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon says. The council resumed its deliberations on its 2025/26 annual plan on Tuesday morning, May 27, with staff recommending to councillors to stick with the proposed average rate rise of 4.98 percent. Mr Gordon backed the call and said the draft annual plan was in line with central Government direction, focusing on delivering local infrastructure, core services and ''a responsible rates increase''. The council received 787 submissions, with the bulk being on the council's proposed waters services model, designed to meet the requirements of the Government's Local Water Done Well legislation. ''Residents told us they were happy with the direction we've proposed, specifically supporting investing in our infrastructure as Waimakariri grows and demand for service increase.'' The council has proposed beefing up its own internal business unit to manage water services, despite calls from its northern neighbours, Hurunui and Kaikōura, to join a North Canterbury water services council controlled organisation. Around 97% of submissions supported going it alone on managing water services. ''This support has vindicated the strong stance and time we have spent advocating for better Three Waters Reform that respected local property rights and had assets remain in the hands of the communities that paid for them,'' Mr Gordon said. Staff recommended minor changes to the budget following submissions, including grants of $10,000 to the Rangiora Bowling Club, $3500 to the Waimakariri Public Arts Trust and $8500 to the Ohoka Domain Advisory Board. Changes to KiwiSaver, announced by the Government in last week's Budget, will also have a small impact on the council. The council's finance and business support general manager Nicole Robinson said the changes could be absorbed in the budget, without increasing rates. She said the council planned to spend $89.6m on capital projects over the next 12 months. The Waimakariri district was continuing to experience growth, with 743 consents for new houses issued in the 2024 calendar year, but the council continued to operate in an uncertain economic environment, she said. Inflation has improved, with Consumer Price Index inflation now estimated at 2.2% and the Local Government Cost Index inflation, which impacted on the council, now at 3.3%. Interest rates have also dropped, with the Reserve Bank's Official Cash Rate now 3.5%, down from 4.25% earlier in the year. The council's interest rate from the Local Government Funding Agency is now 3.48%. Deliberations were set to continue this afternoon, with a reserve day planned for tomorrow (Wednesday) if required. The council is due to meet again on June 17 to adopt the 2025/26 annual plan. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Waimakariri Remains On Track For Rate Rise Under 5%
Supporting growth by investing in infrastructure is the focus of Waimakariri District Council's annual plan, Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon says. The council resumed its deliberations on its 2025/26 annual plan on Tuesday morning, May 27, with staff recommending to councillors to stick with the proposed average rate rise of 4.98 percent. Mr Gordon backed the call and said the draft annual plan was in line with central Government direction, focusing on delivering local infrastructure, core services and ''a responsible rates increase''. The council received 787 submissions, with the bulk being on the council's proposed waters services model, designed to meet the requirements of the Government's Local Water Done Well legislation. ''Residents told us they were happy with the direction we've proposed, specifically supporting investing in our infrastructure as Waimakariri grows and demand for service increase.'' The council has proposed beefing up its own internal business unit to manage water services, despite calls from its northern neighbours, Hurunui and Kaikōura, to join a North Canterbury water services council controlled organisation. Around 97% of submissions supported going it alone on managing water services. ''This support has vindicated the strong stance and time we have spent advocating for better Three Waters Reform that respected local property rights and had assets remain in the hands of the communities that paid for them,'' Mr Gordon said. Staff recommended minor changes to the budget following submissions, including grants of $10,000 to the Rangiora Bowling Club, $3500 to the Waimakariri Public Arts Trust and $8500 to the Ohoka Domain Advisory Board. Changes to KiwiSaver, announced by the Government in last week's Budget, will also have a small impact on the council. The council's finance and business support general manager Nicole Robinson said the changes could be absorbed in the budget, without increasing rates. She said the council planned to spend $89.6m on capital projects over the next 12 months. The Waimakariri district was continuing to experience growth, with 743 consents for new houses issued in the 2024 calendar year, but the council continued to operate in an uncertain economic environment, she said. Inflation has improved, with Consumer Price Index inflation now estimated at 2.2% and the Local Government Cost Index inflation, which impacted on the council, now at 3.3%. Interest rates have also dropped, with the Reserve Bank's Official Cash Rate now 3.5%, down from 4.25% earlier in the year. The council's interest rate from the Local Government Funding Agency is now 3.48%. Deliberations were set to continue this afternoon, with a reserve day planned for tomorrow (Wednesday) if required. The council is due to meet again on June 17 to adopt the 2025/26 annual plan. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Community feedback sought on proposed 3.3 per cent City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder rates hike
Community feedback is sought on a proposed maximum 3.3 per cent rate-in-the-dollar and minimum payment increase for Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents next financial year, with some councillors expressing a desire to see the figure reduced before it is adopted. At Monday night's meeting, councillors unanimously endorsed the proposed rates model — which includes an overall rates revenue yield increase of 5.01 per cent — for public submissions up to June 10. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder expects the proposed 2025-26 rates revenue yield to be $35,822,553 compared to the current financial year revenue of $34,112,213. The agenda item report tabled at the meeting said this was equivalent to a 3.3 per cent increase to the rate-in-the-dollar and minimum payments. The report said this increase was necessary to meet the anticipated revenue requirements for the 2025-26 budget, addressing the changing economic conditions across the city. It said the proposed hike was below the Local Government Cost Index June forecast of 3.6 per cent but above the CPI rate of 2.8 per cent. Mayor Glenn Wilson welcomed community feedback on the proposal to be considered before a rates model was adopted at a future meeting, but stressed the 3.3 per cent was the maximum increase to be considered by the city. He said rates accounted for a quarter to a third of the city's revenue, with government grant funding making up a significant portion as well. 'Community expectations of what council should be delivering is quite high,' Mr Wilson said. 'Balancing that up with a figure that is the least impactful as possible to our residents and ratepayers had been key for these conversations to the point where council have instructed staff to look at mechanisms that we could have at our disposal — which we already do for hardship payments — and to make sure that we're only putting up the minimum to help those who are finding it difficult.' Cr Carla Viskovich, who moved the motion on Monday night, said the city had 'ambitious goals', including plans to renew ageing infrastructure, and she looked forward to the council continuing to be transparent with the community about how rates funding was used. While ultimately supporting the motion, Cr Terrence Winner said he was not committing to the 3.3 per cent figure 'completely'. 'At this point in time, we as a council are very well aware, and it has been discussed around the table on numerous occasions, that most people are hurting at the moment with the cost-of-living pressures and financial instability,' he said. 'I think we need to continue to explore ways to support our community through this time; by keeping our belts tight we can keep any increases as low as possible and charge those with greater capacity more, while reviewing city expenditure to keep in line with community capabilities, expectations and community growth. 'Our community wants to see that if we are investing money into projects and programs that we're getting great outcomes in delivering these projects.' Cr Nardia Turner said her hope was for the rate increase to be reduced when the issue returned to council. The report to council also noted an anticipated 3 per cent increase in operating expenditure for 2025-26 and an expected $77 million in capital works.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Kwinana calls for 4.5 per cent rate rise
City of Kwinana ratepayers are facing a 4.5 per cent rates rise in the next financial year. Mayor Peter Feasey said cost-of-living increases continued to affect everyone, including local governments. 'We know families are doing it tough, and we're focused on operational efficiency and financial responsibility,' he said. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'The rising cost of living is affecting everyone. Inflationary pressures, including continual increases in the Consumer Price Index and the Local Government Cost Index, have created financial challenges for councils across the State.' If the proposed rise goes ahead, the rates bill for an average household would jump about $73 — or $1.42 per week, as the City of Kwinana puts it. 'Our priority is to strike the right balance — keeping rate increases as low as possible while still delivering the core services and maintaining the service levels our community expects,' Mr Feasey said. A three-week opportunity to provide online feedback to the City of Kwinana is underway, finishing May 23. 'Every comment we receive helps inform the complex decisions behind how rates are applied to individual properties,' Mr Feasey said.
