Carterton District Council [CDC] has proposed an average rates rise of 15.09 per cent.
The increase will be signalled in the council’s draft Long-Term Plan [LTP], which will go out for consultation on April 5.
CDC will be consulting on road network funding due to historic underinvestment and wastewater plant equipment upgrades.
The old wastewater plant on Dalefield Rd hasn’t been upgraded for more than 60 years, while the roading network needs further investment to prevent roads from deteriorating to the point of closure.
Mayor Ron Mark said rates affordability is at the forefront of councillors’ minds and expressed frustration with costs “forced upon councils that were passed onto ratepayers”.
“We are fully aware and sensitive to the challenges ratepayers are facing in these difficult economic times and there are real possibilities that our determination to build in resilience and forge ahead with certain projects may need to be modified,” Mark said.
“We have struggled in some cases with inadequate government funding, and assistance for rural roads.
“We have struggled with a 37 per cent increase in roading costs alone and with the stark reality of up to 40 per cent of many projects we undertake being spent just on traffic management.”
The draft LTP is now publicly available as part of the Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda for Wednesday, March 27.
This meeting will be held at 4.30pm at the Carterton Events Centre.
-NZLDR
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This must be a joke 🤣 😂 hahaha. UNDER FUNDING ? What have the rates been used for? 😳 the Event Center. Clock tower. Used by all rate payers and what a lovely 😍 Clock ⏰. Councils have become a money 💰 pit of waste management. Robbery with a smile 😃 😊 covered by rules you put in place. ONE COUNCIL FOR THE WAIRARAPA (STOP THE WASTE OF RATE PAYERS MONEY ON THREE COUNCILS)