Some minor last-minute tinkering by the Clutha District Council yesterday resulted in the confirmation of a 2008-09 general rates rise of 5.26%.
An extra $23,875 in rates, altered after public sub-missions, was responsible for the slight increase from the original rise of 5.13%.
Clutha Recreation Centre Incorporated, which is investigating an indoor multisport facility in Balclutha, gets approval to spend up to $85,000 on its research and development, adding $8075 to the annual rates bill.
Other contributions which have added to the rates take include a one-off $8000 payment to the South Otago Historical Society and $5000 to the Clean Air Warm Homes scheme, with some minor payments to rural reserves and assets.
The new rates will include a uniform annual general charge of $350, while each township will start to pay for various new footpaths and footpath up-grades.
Those charges were set after each community had the chance to decide what level of work they wanted done.
Lawrence will pay the lowest footpath and berm charge of $9 per household, and Milton the highest at $55.13, while charges of just over $30 per household will be imposed on Balclutha, Clinton, Owaka, and Waihola townships.
