The closing date for submissions on the council's proposed revenue and finance policy is October 30. As of yesterday
only six emailed submissions had been received on the topic. The proposals are aimed at bringing equity to the district as a whole and the effect on rates will vary across the district and within wards.
Changing the way water, wastewater and stormwater are funded is one of the major changes.
Under the proposals, all ratepayers connected to a council water supply and wastewater service will pay the same amount, regardless of where they live.
All ratepayers will face a stormwater rate, based on a property's capital value.
A new rate and a new uniform charge will be added to the mix for every ratepayer.
The ''tracks and waterways'' charge of $22.89 per property will be used for maintaining tracks throughout the district and recreational waterway facilities on the shores of Lake Dunstan, Lake Roxburgh and along the Clutha River.
In its proposed policy, the council said the charge ''reflects that tracks and waterways benefit the whole district and are there for us all to enjoy.''
Molyneux Park in Alexandra will be funded from the whole district, under the proposed changes.
''Council feels that Molyneux Park provides enjoyment, recreational use and economic benefits across the whole district,'' the policy says.
The proposed annual rate is $35.73 for the Earnscleugh-Manuherikia and Alexandra wards and $11.91 for the remaining wards.
The rates fund only the sports fields and do not apply to Molyneux Stadium or the Molyneux Aquatic Centre.
The overall impact of the changes would vary across the Vincent wards, Vincent councillor and board chairwoman Clair Higginson said.
''Over time, the benefits from making the rate system flatter across our entire district will ensure all our communities will be able to afford any necessary big costly upgrades.''
In Alexandra, the proposals will probably result in a substantial reduction in annual rates; in Clyde, there may be an increase in rates and most rural Earnscleugh-Manuherikia ratepayers could also face an increase in rates.
Cromwell councillor and Cromwell board chairman Neil Gillespie said in the main, the biggest change for ratepayers was for those connected to water and wastewater schemes, as the costs would be shared across the district by all those connected.
The proposals might result in an increase in Cromwell rates.
Under the changes, Maniototo ratepayers would be rated for services they had not been rated for in the past.
Teviot Valley councillor Stephen Jeffery said the proposals might result in a substantial reduction for Roxburgh ratepayers and also a decrease for Teviot Valley rural ratepayers.
