Dunedin ratepayers burdened by a decade of hefty rate
increases could finally be in for some relief, with the city
council's budget heralding a softening of the annual
increases in homeowners' pockets.
Tokoiti residents say they
are shocked and disappointed with the Clutha District
Council's decision to split the cost of new sewerage systems
in Benhar and Tokoiti, having 50% funded by the townships and
the remainder shared across the district.
Dunedin City
Council budgets are again under the microscope, as staff seek
to bridge a looming shortfall threatening to push up rates by
11.9% next year.
The average proposed rate
increase in the Queenstown Lakes District for 2011-12 would
stay under 3%, council finance general manager and deputy
chief executive Stewart Burns said yesterday.
Taieri farmers have been left considering their options - a
judicial review or going to the ombudsman - after their fight
to delay the adoption of a new rating review failed
yesterday.
A group of irate Taieri farmers are set to drive their
tractors through central Dunedin this afternoon to protest
changes to how their Otago Regional Council rates are set.
The
Waitaki District Council will finalise its 2011-12 budget
tomorrow at a meeting which will set the level of any
increase in the region's rates for the next financial year.
A Dunedin City Council facing unpopular
rates rises, and fresh from election promises of financial
prudence, will tomorrow start discussing a staff report that
has identified $794,300 of cuts for the next financial year.
