Human error has resulted in the postponement of the adoption of the Gore district annual plan.
The plan, which contained details of the forecast 2.84% rates rise, was due to be adopted yesterday at an extraordinary meeting of the Gore District Council.
Mayor Tracy Hicks asked chief executive Steve Parry to explain to councillors why the adoption of the plan needed to be deferred.
Mr Parry said it became evident rates calculations were incorrect and were based on incomplete data from Quotable Value.
"That only became apparent when we saw some of the rate projections that were higher than what was forecast," Mr Parry said.
"Obviously, if you’ve got an incomplete platform on which you are trying to strike a rate it will then throw an artificially high rate."
A table in the plan containing rating examples showed rural properties in particular were affected by higher rates increases than the forecast 2.84%.
Properties with capital values ranging from $100,000 to $9million had projected rates rises between 4.42% and 10.82%.
A Mataura commercial property worth $370,000 had a 9.39% rates drop
and a $400,000 Gore commercial property had a 6.37% decrease.
The projected rates figures would be amended in time for an extraordinary meeting next Tuesday where the district plan would be presented again for adoption, he said.
Mr Hicks said as someone who had been facing a rates increase of 10.8%, he was happy for the matter to be deferred.
