Mayor of Wellington
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.
Abolish debt by writing a cheque from the council to all debtors for the indebted amount. Revive cheques for this purpose.
Conduct all council business by facsimile to save money on email.
Conduct all council proceedings in the dark and in braille to save money on lighting and breath mints.
Cut the wasteful seventy million dollars annual spending on Wellington's roads. Aukatingia te putea mō ngā rori katoa o Pōneke!
Cut the one point eight billion dollars of funds for the water network and divert funds to rainwater tanks and composting toilets. Hanga ipu wai ua ki ia whare.
Reset the budget to cut expenditure, focus on essentials and respect every ratepayer dollar.
Reduce the commercial rating differential over time to support competitiveness, jobs and long-term investment in Wellington.
Improve financial transparency so ratepayers can clearly see council debt, revenue, fees and how their money is managed.
Switch to land value based rates to more fairly charge owners the actual cost of infrastructure provision to each section.
Investigate options to tax or rate unearned benefits captured by land bankers through rezoning using land value uplift charges.
Grow Wellington's population to reduce per person rates; at Hamilton's growth rate, rates would be approximately $1,500 per household per year lower.
Apply financial management skills to the council's assets and debts and retain profitable assets to help offset rates increase.
Identify the council's core functions and shift responsibilities that do not belong to the council to the central government or seek funding.
Ensure that rate increases align with the inflation rate and do not exceed it.
Keep rates increases affordable through a line-by-line spending review and phase big investments so council is not overloading the rates bill.
Establish an independent capital advisory group to monitor major projects and prevent cost blowouts like the Town Hall and the sludge plant.
Protect public ownership of Wellington Airport as a strategic asset and a great investment; once it is gone, it is gone.
Abolish debt by writing a cheque from the council to all debtors for the indebted amount. Revive cheques for this purpose.
Conduct all council business by facsimile to save money on email.
Conduct all council proceedings in the dark and in braille to save money on lighting and breath mints.
Cut the wasteful seventy million dollars annual spending on Wellington's roads. Aukatingia te putea mō ngā rori katoa o Pōneke!
Cut the one point eight billion dollars of funds for the water network and divert funds to rainwater tanks and composting toilets. Hanga ipu wai ua ki ia whare.
Reset the budget to cut expenditure, focus on essentials and respect every ratepayer dollar.
Reduce the commercial rating differential over time to support competitiveness, jobs and long-term investment in Wellington.
Improve financial transparency so ratepayers can clearly see council debt, revenue, fees and how their money is managed.
Switch to land value based rates to more fairly charge owners the actual cost of infrastructure provision to each section.
Investigate options to tax or rate unearned benefits captured by land bankers through rezoning using land value uplift charges.
Grow Wellington's population to reduce per person rates; at Hamilton's growth rate, rates would be approximately $1,500 per household per year lower.
Apply financial management skills to the council's assets and debts and retain profitable assets to help offset rates increase.
Identify the council's core functions and shift responsibilities that do not belong to the council to the central government or seek funding.
Ensure that rate increases align with the inflation rate and do not exceed it.
Keep rates increases affordable through a line-by-line spending review and phase big investments so council is not overloading the rates bill.
Establish an independent capital advisory group to monitor major projects and prevent cost blowouts like the Town Hall and the sludge plant.
Protect public ownership of Wellington Airport as a strategic asset and a great investment; once it is gone, it is gone.
Mayor
Compare the mayoral candidates in your area
Local council
Compare the candidates for your city or district council
Regional council
Compare the candidates for your regional council
Local board
Compare the candidates for your local or community board