Roxburgh ward rates are likely to rise by about 6% this year, after the Roxburgh Community Board managed to trim $22,000 off the budget.
The board met on Thursday to consider the estimates for the Roxburgh ward component of the Central Otago rates and initially faced a 9.1% rates increase.
"Getting it back to 6% is the best we can do.
"It's a larger rates increase than we would have liked, but we could not have done a lot better," board chairman Stephen Jeffery said.
Central Otago District Council management accountant Ainslie Wilson said the 6% figure was only a rough indication as the district component had yet to be decided upon, and added.
Most of the Roxburgh increase was due to a rise in the valuation of utilities and an increase in spending on parks.
"It's like lost revenue, but we can't do anything about it," Mr Jeffrey said.
In its budget, the board has allowed $4000 for promotions, $10,000 towards the Clutha Gold cycle trail, $12,000 for grants, and more than $100,000 to be spent on Roxburgh reserves.
Roxburgh is the last of four Central Otago community boards to consider its estimates.
The Cromwell Community Board recommended a 15% increase in the Cromwell ward rate, the Maniototo Community Board has approved a 3.9% increase and the Vincent Community Board has recommended a 12.8% increase.
The council will meet next week to consider the district part of the rates.
