No general rate increase is planned by the Otago Regional
Council in the coming financial year.
Last year's long-term council community plan listed a 2%
rates rise for 2010-11, but the council's draft annual plan
proposes no movement in the general rate.
However, the long-term plan's provisions for rates rises in
targeted rating areas - including the Taieri, Clutha
(drainage and flood protection works) and in Queenstown (new
bus services) - remain.
The draft plan will be considered by the finance and
corporate committee tomorrow and, if adopted, will go out for
public consultation, with hearings in May.
It proposes a general rate take of $4.47 million, the same as
the past financial year, which was a 1.2% increase on
2008-09.
The uniform annual general charge is proposed to be held at
$12.70.
Corporate services director Wayne Scott said the "enhanced"
investment returns and work on cost control within the
council were the primary reasons the general rate could be
held.
Higher than predicted interest income ($887,000 instead of
$432,000) was available to help keep rates down, in part
because of the deferral of the council's headquarters
development plan.
The deferral also allows the special dividend from Port Otago
of $12.7 million to be reduced to $6.8 million.
About $730,000 is budgeted for work in the Cumberland St to
Dundas St reach of the Water of Leith, while work continues
on finalising scheme estimates and on a revised
implementation plan for the rest of the work.
Taieri ratepayers in the targeted flood and drainage scheme
areas face rates increases of between 8.3% (lower Taieri) and
15% (West Taieri).
West Taieri liaison group members had not endorsed the
proposed increase, suggesting instead work be paid for by the
wider community rate or reserves until a rating
classification review had been completed, Mr Scott said.
The Lower Clutha liaison group had endorsed the proposed
rating level - an 11% increase - for the purposes of
consultation.
The majority of targeted river management rates for the
region were to remain the same, with increases for the Lower
Waitaki River (33%) and Wanaka (10%).
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