Nelson 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.
Apply understanding of financial management, strategic planning, finance and budgeting from running a business for 37 years.
Review council debt, which appears rather high at 200 percent, and consider reasons such as rising insurance prices.
Examine council investments that appear to be going into private hands and evaluate whether that benefits the security of the community.
Control expenditure increases to the level of inflation.
Limit debt to expenditures for capital assets of a long duration.
Limit charges to a one-off event to prevent continual charging from internal inefficiencies.
Adopt a ratepayer assistance scheme that provides low-interest loans for making homes energy-efficient, installing solar and deferring rates.
Consider congestion charging to pay transport costs.
Explore a levy on polluting activities to fund activities that seek to mitigate or respond to problems arising from pollution.
Prioritise spending on essential services to keep rates rises as low as possible.
Grow non-rates income through smart investments and asset utilisation.
Manage debt responsibly to protect future generations from excessive costs.
Apply understanding of financial management, strategic planning, finance and budgeting from running a business for 37 years.
Review council debt, which appears rather high at 200 percent, and consider reasons such as rising insurance prices.
Examine council investments that appear to be going into private hands and evaluate whether that benefits the security of the community.
Control expenditure increases to the level of inflation.
Limit debt to expenditures for capital assets of a long duration.
Limit charges to a one-off event to prevent continual charging from internal inefficiencies.
Adopt a ratepayer assistance scheme that provides low-interest loans for making homes energy-efficient, installing solar and deferring rates.
Consider congestion charging to pay transport costs.
Explore a levy on polluting activities to fund activities that seek to mitigate or respond to problems arising from pollution.
Prioritise spending on essential services to keep rates rises as low as possible.
Grow non-rates income through smart investments and asset utilisation.
Manage debt responsibly to protect future generations from excessive costs.
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