A slightly higher rates increase than first envisaged will be considered by the Waitaki District Council when it meets on Wednesday to make final decisions on its 2014-15 budget.
In its 2014-15 draft annual plan, which went out for public consultation in March, the council proposed a 2.6% increase in its total rates take.
After taking account of the public response, the council will consider putting extra expenditure in its budget, which would take the increase to 3%.
Councillors will go through the budget, consider comments from staff on the proposed extra expenditure, then confirm the annual plan, fees and charges.
The formal adoption of the annual plan will be on June 25. Wednesday is the last opportunity councillors will have to make changes and still meet the deadline for implementation on July 1.
This year, the council is collecting $28.27 million in rates. The draft plan proposed additional funding of $756,900, a 2.6% rise, for additional projects, taking the rates collection to $29.016 million.
The bulk of the additional funding was $402,900 to continue extra spending on rural roads as part of a project to strengthen the network and in response to complaints from ratepayers about road standards.
Other major additional spending from rates included $42,500 for parking in the Oamaru historic precinct, $87,500 to service debt in its property unit (mainly related to the Opera House restoration and redevelopment), $20,000 for the Gigatown competition, $30,000 for economic development and a contribution of $20,000 for movable closed circuit television monitoring.
Additional items identified after the public consultation process added up to $105,000, taking the proposed rates required to $29.122 million, an increase of 3% compared with the rates collected this year.
Major items the council will consider adding after public submissions are $20,000 for the Ahuriri and Hampden waste transfer stations, $7000 to assist reinstatement of mountain bike tracks on Cape Wanbrow after logging, $50,000 for coastal erosion protection, $10,000 for tourist signage, $13,500 for kerb and channelling in Reservoir Rd, $15,000 for a bus shelter in Eden St, a $4000 contribution to the East Otago community swimming pool and a $5000 contribution to the North Otago Returned and Services Association for maintenance of memorial structures.
