Projected figures for general, ward, and district rate components were included within the Central Otago District Council's draft annual plan for 2010-11, which was approved for public consultation at a meeting in Alexandra yesterday.
During a series of community board and council committee meetings earlier this year, staff and elected members shaved funding for some projects from budgets to minimise the rate increase.
The draft figure reflected costs of increased standards and compliance criteria driven from central government, the draft annual plan stated.
Depreciation was a main factor for the increase, with a total of $9.4 million set aside in the coming financial year for the future replacement of assets.
Funding for some capital projects being delayed meant the $1.35 million increase on the 2009-10 financial year was 0.3% less than initially predicted within the council's Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP).
"Although it is still uncomfortably high, the increase is not as bad as originally forecast," Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson said.
Dr Macpherson said it would be up to residents to make submissions on the draft annual plan if they wanted to see changes made to the document before it was approved and implemented in coming months.
"People need to tell us what they do or don't want, which could change the estimated rate increase," he said.
Submissions on the draft annual plan must be lodged by May 12.
