The Waitaki District Council's proposed 6.4% rate rise next financial year could be lower by the time final decisions are made on June 24, Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton hinted last night.
‘‘It's not too bad to have a 6.4% increase and we can still get to something more reasonable,'' he told a public meeting of about 30 people in Oamaru called to outline the council's 2008-09 draft annual plan.
However, a large number of those present told the council rates were still unaffordable.
Issues raised included cutting the $9.4 million Opera House redevelopment, the cost of administering and operating the council, deferring projects which could lead to large rates rises, new kerbing and channelling in Jessop St, $100,000 set aside for Oamaru Harbour development, maintenance of housing for the elderly, growing staff numbers and Waitaki ratepayers paying for the proposed Awatea St stadium in Dunedin.
Deputy mayor Gary Kircher outlined the draft annual plan for 2008-09, which shows a proposed rates rise of 6.4%.
The actual increase varied from property to property - it could mean a rise of less than 2% for some Omarama properties but 7% or more in Oamaru.
Oamaru ratepayer Ron Sim worked out the average increase on his two properties was 11% - an extra $600 a year. That showed the council had neither shown enough restraint nor acted prudently, he said.
Cr Peter Garvan appealed to people not just to look at costcutting, but also the sort of town they wanted to live in, to which Oamaru property-owner Gerry Angus retorted: ‘‘A town I can afford to live in.''
People were still hurting from previous rate rises, but the council was not doing anything, he said.
Public submissions close on May 13.
