Low rate rise signalled in TDC's Draft Annual Plan

March 5th, 2013
[TDC press release]

Tasman District Council's Draft Annual Plan for the 2013-14 year, which will be open for viewing and submissions by ratepayers next Wednesday, signals the lowest overall rates increase for many years.

Setting the work programme and budgets for the year is perhaps the most important process the Council manages, and the Draft Annual Plan provides a line by line plan of the work the Council is proposing to undertake on behalf of the District's residents as well as the costs involved, said Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne.

"The need to manage the demands on the Council to deliver necessary services for our community in a cost effective manner is always paramount," he said.

"To this end we have reviewed a number of projects and by focusing on new ways of achieving our goals we have been able to identify ways to deliver these services at a lower cost."

He said the Draft Plan contains the lowest overall rates increase required by the Council for many years. The general rate increase, after allowing for growth, is 1.53% and the total rates increase, including targeted rates, for most properties will be between 1.6% and 2.6%. Some properties may differ from these figures depending on the targeted rates they pay for particular services.

"To achieve this result the Council has placed importance on providing services as efficiently as possible and also reviewed and identified ways to streamline our activities.

"For some activities we have reduced the level of service, particularly in the areas of community recreation, environmental education and car park surfacing.

"There is a greater focus on shared services with councils throughout the country, especially our immediate neighbours. We currently have around 100 collaborative arrangements with other councils and we have identified a number of additional activities that have the potential to be a shared service. The aim is to meet local needs while benefitting from the sharing of resources, costs and expertise.

"The ability of residents to contribute to the Council's plans and decision-making is a fundamental right and the Draft Annual Plan is the best opportunity people have to shape the future of the District."

Submissions open on March 20th and close 4.30pm on April 22nd. All Tasman residents will receive a Newsline Summary, which will also be found at the council's website, as will be the full Draft Annual Plan.

Copies of the Full Plan and the Summary will also be available at all Tasman libraries and offices.

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