Support given to $800,000 being used to offset rates
7 November 2012
A staff recommendation to secure $800,000 in savings to offset rates in the Waipa District over the next three years was supported by the council's Finance and Corporate Committee yesterday.
The full council will now be asked to formally approve the resolution that would see $400,000 used to reduce the amount of rates revenue required in the 2013/14 year.
The remaining $400,000 would be used to offset the amount of rates revenue required by $200,000 in each of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 years.
It was recommended the smoothing option be used as applying the full amount of savings next year would cause a large increase the following year.
Staff had also recommended the committee consider the timing and possibilities of staged construction for certain high cost discretionary items in the 10-Year Plan however the committee considered that this would be done as a matter of course during the council's annual planning processes.
Mayor Alan Livingston said the council was a business in which the goal posts were shifting all the time and regular reviews were needed to ensure the best decisions were being made on behalf of the community, he said.
An example of this was the need to fund an unbudgeted $1.5 million in repairs following storm damage in the district in July and the decision to defer some works to limit the effect on ratepayers.
We also review our plans and expenditure as a matter of course every year with a view to creating efficiencies and there is no need to duplicate that process, said Mr Livingston.
All items in the 10-Year Plan would be reviewed as part of the relevant Annual Plan or 10-Year Plan when the time arose and the community would have the opportunity to have their say as part of the consultation process, he said.
Both councillors and staff should be congratulated for the efforts in finding these savings. It is through prudent financial management and wise decision making that we have been able to maintain our current levels of service and still offer some rates relief to ratepayers.
