A proposed 2% rates rise has been settled on for formal consideration, to start in February, of a draft 2014-15 annual plan by the Waitaki District Council.
Yesterday was the first time the 2014-15 budget had been considered by the council in public. A report with all projects suggested by staff, councillors and the community indicated a starting point of a 3.2% rates increase.
After spending about four hours going through the projects, the council reduced that to 2%, which would collect about $28.8 million in rates, compared with $28 million this financial year.
Councillors went through individual projects to confirm whether further information should be provided for the council's formal approval of a draft 2014-15 annual plan for public consultation in March.
Some of the parks and reserves projects, including at the harbour, were postponed to be part of a reserve management plan expected to be completed next year.
These included $40,000 to develop the grassed area between Wansbeck St and Oamaru Creek along the foreshore, spending money replacing or restoring the historic Craigs Fountain in the front garden of the Oamaru Public Gardens and replanting plans for cleared forests at Cape Wanbrow and Moeraki.
Others were not funded in the plan but could be included again once more details are provided when the council starts to firm up a draft in February.
Projects which survived yesterday included $30,000 for economic development, $20,000 for a CCTV security camera system around the harbour, $40,000 for funding the Waitaki Gardens, $96,900 towards $285,000 for roads at Harbourside and $43,000 to progress amalgamating Otago fire districts into an enlarged rural fire district.
