The Waitaki District Council is likely to approve tomorrow a draft budget with a 1.8% rate rise in the next financial year, but the final figure will depend on what the community thinks.
On February 24, after two workshops, the council went through its 2010-11 draft annual plan.
The long-term community plan had predicted a 5.9% overall rate rise, but the council pruned that back to 1.8%.
The draft annual plan will go to a council meeting tomorrow for approval before going out for public submissions.
Submissions close on April 23.
The council will make a final decision before the end of June.
The council will publicise the draft annual plan and ask for submissions in newsletters to ratepayers detailing the rates payable on each property.
It will also publish a summary of the draft annual plan in the Waitaki Link on March 20 and hold public meetings - at Oamaru on April 12 in the Opera House; Otematata on April 13 in the Otematata Lakes Community Centre; Palmerston on April 14 in the Sports Hall; and Five Forks on April 15 in the Five Forks Community Hall, all starting at 7pm.
