Media release
24 February 2009

Rates rise of 3% signalled for Waitakere

After a week of deliberations, Waitakere City’s Long Term Council Community Plan and Annual Plan Committee today agreed to recommend to the council that an indicative rates rise of three percent be adopted for its Draft Annual Plan for 2009/2010.

The Draft Annual Plan sets projects and budgets for the next financial year and is part of the Long Term Council Community (LTCCP), which outlines priorities through to 2019.

If adopted, a council-controlled rates increase of three percent would equate to about $1.00 extra per week for the average residential property. This would exclude regional levies outside the council’s control.

However, committee chair Councillor Janet Clews says work will continue over the coming weeks to fine-tune the council’s budgets before the council formally adopts its Draft Annual Plan on March 20.

“A huge amount of effort has been put in by councillors and the chief executive’s budget review group to examine all expenditure and we are still keen to explore ways in which we can trim our budgets further to deliver a rates rise of under three percent,” Cr Clews says.

Public consultation on the Draft Annual Plan will open on March 31 and continue until April 30, when residents and ratepayers will be encouraged to provide feedback on the council’s proposed budget and prioritisations for the next financial year and beyond.

ENDS

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