South Wairarapa councillors will decide today if dog control fees will increase by 10 per cent this year.
A 10 per cent hike is the recommended option, with a report to elected members noting that the council has not significantly raised the fees and charges for dogs for at least three years.
South Wairarapa District Council [SWDC] was the only Wairarapa council that did not raise fees last year.
A report to SWDC on the recommendation states the inflationary costs associated with the dog control service can no longer be absorbed.
“Therefore, to maintain the ability for users to pay the appropriate level and not burden the general ratepayer, the recommendation is a 10 per cent increase in general fees and set amount increases in other fee categories,” the report states.
Other options on the table are to keep charges the same or to increase them by 5 per cent.
With a 10 per cent rise, dog registration would cost $121 for urban entire [currently $110], $85 for urban desexed [from $77], $77 for rural entire [from $70], $47 for rural desexed [from $43], and a flat fee of $242 for 10 rural dogs [from $220].
In comparison, it costs $75 to register an urban desexed dog in Carterton and $100 for an urban entire dog.
Rural dogs cost $75 each for the first two dogs, and $40 each for remaining dogs.
If a Carterton dog is classified as dangerous, it costs $160.
Masterton has the highest dog fees of the three Wairarapa councils at $100 for desexed urban dogs and $169 per urban entire dog.
Rural dogs cost $100 to register for the first dog, and $27 per additional dog.
If dogs are classified as dangerous, they cost $150 to register.
People classed as responsible dog owners in Masterton get a 25 per cent discount on urban neutered dogs.
Masterton District Council [MDC] is due to decide on the dog fees for 2023-24 next month.
A note in the council’s latest fees and charges list states MDC expects dog registration fees will increase by about $5 per dog for urban neutered dogs.
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Last year we were told by Wairarapa council’s dog registration fees were to increase. The reason being, less dog’s in the district?.
I believe this to be untrue. I think it’s less people paying registrations.
Why doesn’t Council’s dog control officer’s follow up on this?
It’s the same old story, good people doing the : right thing : paying for the idiots that aren’t !
After all l don’t think caring and responsible owner’s that pay there registrations use the facilities that cost so much. ie dog pounds, control officer’s time, clearing rubbish distributed by roaming dog’s and my favourite, doggie doo’s ( poo’s )