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Dog registration fees in Masterton are proposed to increase an average of 26 per cent.
It is one of several changes to fees and charges in Masterton District Council’s draft long-term plan.
The increases to the dog registration fees reflect inflation adjustments, borrowing costs for the replacement of the animal shelter, the level of work involved with impounded animals, and the inflationary adjustments that were not passed on last year when MDC chose not to increase dog registration fees as part of its covid-19 response.
In Carterton, dog registration fees remain the same and in South Wairarapa increases are slight.
An MDC spokesperson said the increase in fees and charges were to ensure the cost of delivering council activities was fully recovered.
Other areas affected in MDC’s draft long-term plan are building fees, transfer station, housing for the elderly, and environmental health and licensing.
As part of proposed changes, some building consent fees, particularly for residential new dwellings, have been realigned to reflect the type of building work.
Fees for the multi-unit and multi-storey apartments have been increased to reflect the level of processing and the number of inspections.
The initial swimming pool inspection fee of $36 has been removed as it was not covering the cost of the building compliance officers’ time.
The low fee had been used as an incentive in the past but as the three-yearly inspection is a legislative requirement, the council considers that all pool owners should pay the cost of this service and it should not be subsidised by the ratepayer.
The three-yearly pool inspection fee is proposed to be set at $160.
There are increases proposed for fees relating to Masterton’s transfer station facilities because the costs of council disposing of waste to landfill are increasing.
If fees were not increased, costs of disposing of residential and commercial waste would have to be subsidised with rates, a spokesperson said.
No changes are proposed for library fees, parking fees, infrastructure contributions, or concession fees.
Submissions on the proposed fees and charges, and the draft long-term plan, and significance and engagement policy, can be made online through the MDC website.
Hard copies of all documents are available at the council’s office at 161 Queen St.
Submissions close at 4pm on May 3.
