Annual plan direction setting meeting

Auckland city councillors will meet on 12 December to begin the annual review of the council's budget and activities for the next financial year. These decisions will have a direct impact on rates the council will set for the next financial year.

“We are working hard to honour our commitment to Aucklanders of keeping rates to the council’s level of inflation,” says Councillor Doug Armstrong, chairperson of the Finance and Strategy Committee and the annual plan direction setting meeting.

“The majority of Auckland City Council’s expenditure is in its capital works programme and

we will be looking hard at the timing of these projects to ensure there is affordable progress.”

“Even a slowed-down works programme will still see us investing around $380 million in the city over the next year in important areas like the ongoing upgrade of footpaths and roads, progressing the redevelopment of the Auckland Art Gallery, stormwater system upgrades and maintaining our infrastructure.”

The council’s rate of inflation is 4.8 per cent for the year 2008/2009. This reflects the costs to the council of things like the labour market, building materials, interest rates, depreciation and fuel.

“We will also consider reports that review options for revenue other than rates, such as increased fees and charges, uniform charges and additional funding from central government,” says Mr Armstrong.

“We want to ensure that people who benefit most from what we do contribute fairly to the funding of it.”

“At the meeting we will also review the charitable payments from Metrowater,” he says.

People will have an opportunity to give their feedback on any changes to the projects and budget in April when the council publishes its draft annual plan.

In June, the council will consider the public's feedback and will finalise the annual plan and the level of rates for the next financial year.

Timeline

What When Why
Annual plan direction setting 12 December Councillors will review officers’ information reports about the budget and planned projects.

Councillors can request more information on certain areas which will be presented to the Combined Committees meeting in March or at relevant committees in the interim.
Combined Committees 1 March The Combined Committees of council review further refined reports from officers.
They decide on the proposals to be included in the draft annual plan for public feedback.
Draft annual plan out for public feedback 20 April – 20 May The draft annual plan and submission forms are published.

Combined Committees 2 June The Combined Committees consider the public feedback on the draft annual plan and finalised the budget and plan for the next financial year.
Final annual plan July The final annual plan is published.

ENDS

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