Invercargill City Council
Rates and revenue
The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.
Rates and revenue
The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.
Only agree to rates capping proposals by government if they contribute to operating expenses like in Australia and pay rates on their properties.
Continue financial prudence, with councillors realising that if they propose spending cuts, they need to identify the resulting service cuts.
Manage council debt levels responsibly.
Keep rates rises to a minimum while including the cost of water services.
Inflation adjust fees for council services other than rates only.
Focus on greater communication and consultation with the community on rates issues.
Build a good education program relating to rates issues.
Support anyone in need of support regarding rates issues.
Ensure rates are affordable for ratepayers, cut waste and focus spending on what is essential for the time being.
Consider further user pays changes to services that not all residents use.
Find other ways of raising revenue aside from rates increases, such as increasing the number of ratepayers with more houses.
Ensure rates increase only at the CPI, focusing on essential infrastructure.
Maintain low council debt through wise investment and public and private partnership.
Stop any large rates increases in rates as the present council has that in control.
Stop more debt and borrowing unless it becomes unavailable.
Introduce a system like the Bluff boat ramp with a user pays system.
Only agree to rates capping proposals by government if they contribute to operating expenses like in Australia and pay rates on their properties.
Continue financial prudence, with councillors realising that if they propose spending cuts, they need to identify the resulting service cuts.
Manage council debt levels responsibly.
Keep rates rises to a minimum while including the cost of water services.
Inflation adjust fees for council services other than rates only.
Focus on greater communication and consultation with the community on rates issues.
Build a good education program relating to rates issues.
Support anyone in need of support regarding rates issues.
Ensure rates are affordable for ratepayers, cut waste and focus spending on what is essential for the time being.
Consider further user pays changes to services that not all residents use.
Find other ways of raising revenue aside from rates increases, such as increasing the number of ratepayers with more houses.
Ensure rates increase only at the CPI, focusing on essential infrastructure.
Maintain low council debt through wise investment and public and private partnership.
Stop any large rates increases in rates as the present council has that in control.
Stop more debt and borrowing unless it becomes unavailable.
Introduce a system like the Bluff boat ramp with a user pays system.
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