Water and wastewater upgrades account for nearly half the 14% rates rise Roxburgh ratepayers are likely to face this year.
The Roxburgh Community Board spent more than eight hours discussing its estimates yesterday and trimming its budget.
The draft figure arrived at was "still not good but better than the 30% rise we were looking at when we started the meeting", board chairman Stephen Jeffery said.
"I don't think any of us are real comfortable with the 13.9%-14% increase, but we've trimmed whatever we can and we know there's a limit to what people can afford."
He said upgrading water and wastewater were two of the bigger items in the budget and accounted for about 6% of the planned rates rise.
The upgrades were driven by legislation.
Although subsidies were available for the water upgrade, they were not available for the wastewater project.
Central Otago District Council utility services manager Peter Greenwood said the Roxburgh board would have to spend about $300,000 on land-based treatment and disposal of wastewater.
At present the treated sewage is discharged into the Clutha river.
"We can't afford to spend such a huge amount of money," Mr Jeffery said. "It's a central Government-led initiative but driven by the Otago Regional Council."
Board member John Lane agreed, saying the council "want us to build a stadium and we can't even [afford to] get rid of our poos".
A revaluation of ward assets also helped increase rates as depreciation had to be paid on the higher figure.
The recently upgraded Roxburgh Town Hall was now valued at $1.9 million.
The refurbishment was a community project and cost $560,000, with the board contributing $65,000 of that amount.
The board agreed to spend $15,000 over the year on the proposed Alexandra-Roxburgh cycle and walking trail.
"We see this as a necessity to enhance its tourist opportunities and its growth and to enhance the viability of the Clutha Gold Trail," Mr Lane said.
The board also agreed to devote $10,000 to the proposed Clutha Gold walking and cycle trail between Lawrence and Roxburgh.
Both grants will come out of the board's general reserves and will not be a burden on ratepayers.
