The Mayor and Councillors were presented with the proposed budget for the 2019/20 Annual Plan at Tuesday’s Hamilton City Council meeting.

The Annual Plan sets out the budget and major projects for the next financial year (1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020). This Annual Plan represents Year 2 of the 10-Year Plan 2018-28.

The Annual Plan is based on the Council’s existing financial strategy parameters. The Council is on track with what was planned in the 10-Year Plan and at this stage there are no significant amendments being proposed. The revised draft budget will be brought back to the Council on 4 April 2019.

At Tuesday’s meeting the Council approved the following items for the purpose of preparing the draft budget:

• $150,000 of operating funding to support a study in conjunction with NZ Transport Agency to consider the impacts of growth on the Greenwood St/Kahikatea Dr area. The study will focus on the area bounded by Kahikatea Dr rail crossing to Killarney Rd and Tuhikaramea Rd.
• $150,000 of capital funding to provide provision for separation between swimmers/divers and vessels in the river at Hamilton Gardens
• $230,000 of operating funding to provide a trial of extending the City Safe Programme to suburban areas
• Development Contribution (DC) remissions for the central city (reduced in 2018) will be reintroduced until 2021 and staff will report back on the financial impact, and savings options to cover the costs at the 4 April 2019 meeting.

Council also resolved to consult on proposed changes to its Development Contributions Policy. Key changes include:

• Reinstatement of CBD remissions (meaning developers in the central city would not pay development contributions)
• Updating the schedule of capital projects on which development contributions are payable. This would add approximately $1000 to $4000 per household unit equivalent to the cost of developing a new property (but reduce the amount that ratepayers contribute to these projects).

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