April 10, 2007

Annual Plan: what you get for your rates

North Shore City Council is proposing an average rates increase of 6.9* per cent from July to pay for new assets and maintain existing services.

Mayor George Wood says increasing demand on services and facilities continues throughout North Shore City one of the faster growing parts of New Zealand.

"Next year will see some significant milestones achieved in our infrastructural programme, such as the opening of the Northern Busway and more transit lanes in operation.

"We have worked hard to contain the rates increase while still delivering a work programme that meets the standards our community expects.

"A combination of factors, including delays with some projects, and making interest rate savings have all helped to reduce the rates increase from what was originally projected in our 10-year City Plan," he says.

The major reasons for the rates increase are the debt servicing costs for the loan-funded capital works programme, depreciation and maintenance of new assets. A total of 78 cents of every rates dollar goes to areas that the community has said are important to them, including wastewater, public transport, roads, parks, beaches, sportsfields, environmental planning, libraries and stormwater.

Some new capital projects that the North Shore City Council is investing in, to the tune of $136m, over the next year, are:

* Transport (includes public transport assets of $22.8m) $57.6m

* Wastewater (includes $31.4m on the treatment plant and outfall) $45m * Parks, beaches and sportsfields $16.2m * Stormwater $7.5m

The average residential rates bill is expected to increase from $1,594 to $1,713 - a $119 increase or $2.28 more a week.

Meetings are being held at venues around North Shore City to explain the draft plan. The next meetings are at Devonport Area Office, Victoria Rd, Devonport on April 11 and Takapuna Area Office, The Strand, Takapuna on April 12. All meetings start at 7.30pm.

Late last month, the council sent every household and business in the city a newsletter summarising the 2007-2008 Draft Annual Plan. A reply-paid feedback form was included to make it easier for people to provide feedback before 5pm on April 20.

People are also invited to visit our website www.northshorecity.govt.nz to give their feedback online, or call Actionline on 486 8600 for a list of council offices and libraries where they can view the full plan.

*NOTE: The 6.9 per cent North Shore City rates increase excludes MOTAT and the Auckland War Memorial Museum levies, with these levies, the rates increase is 7.4 per cent.

ENDS

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