The Clutha District Council has announced an average rates increase of about 1.61% for the 2018-19 year.
The final figure is less than the 2.53% initially projected in its long-term plan, discussions on which concluded on Thursday.
However, increases over the following nine years of the plan were expected to average 2.98%, mainly because of the timing of key infrastructure projects, a council spokesman said.
Through its adoption of proposed financial and infrastructure strategy updates, the council had confirmed a focus on its ‘‘core business’’.
Spending on core functions for the next 10 years would include $3.1 million on promoting growth, $39.2 million on increased service levels and $152.1 million on replacing assets.
Among other expenditure, councillors voted to spend $440,000 to help pay the contractual liability of more than $1.8 million associated with the fraught construction of the Balclutha Centennial Pool.
This would reduce rates by about $3 per household across the district.
This year there were 37 applications to the council for grants from community groups.
It agreed to fund a total of $354,642 of the applications, the largest single grant of $58,994 going to the Clutha Combined Museums Group.
A proposed extension to the Clutha Gold Trail, from Lawrence to Milton and Waihola, received $1 million, funded over 25 years.
The Clutha District Youth Council also won its bid to secure $10,000 to support the start of a campaign against illegal substance use, such as methamphetamine.
Mayor Bryan Cadogan said he was pleased with the balance of expenditure against rates increases.
"Council has been able to progress many more critical projects and core services at the same time as delivering an overall rate rise of 1.61%. I want to thank our chief executive and staff for delivering on the promise of more for less."
