Council’s pre-election report available
Waikato district’s performance, projects and future focus is summarised in the Council’s first pre-election report released today.
The report is a new legal requirement of all councils from this year, and has been produced by the Chief Executive. Its aim is to provide politically independent information about the issues the Council faces, promote public discussion and help voters to make informed choices.
The information in the report is drawn from Annual Reports, the 2012-22 Long Term Plan and the 2013/14 Annual Plan. It highlights key projects for the next four years including upgraded water storage and reservoirs, water reticulation extensions and upgrades, bridge and roading renewals, and library purchases.
It also highlights progress made over the past three years on key projects in the district, including completion of Te Kauwhata Library, Raglan Museum and Information Centre, Raglan Wharf, Kopua footbridge, Huntly cemetery land purchase, wastewater upgrades, Ngaruawahia water treatment plant upgrade, and District Plan change 2.
In addition it provides an overview of Council’s financial position, strategic direction and proposed approach to planning for growth, the services needed to meet that growth and maintaining existing services.
Chief Executive Gavin Ion says the report provides a succint overview of Council’s business.
“This pre-election report is a useful summary of Council’s focus in the past as well as its priorities for the future. It shows the Council is in a sound financial position, with limits set on rates increases, solid debt management and briefly outlines plans in place to address the future service and infrastructure needs of the district.”
The report is available on the Council’s website at http://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/CMSFiles/f5/f580817d-8b46-4cf3-942a-3bc2d79b34b8.pdf
The report on rates is misleading. The graph shows they’ve kept to their target of 1% above inflation for general rates. It doesn’t include targeted rates, but the figures in the Funding Impact Statement show these as rising from $22.5m this year to $31m in 2016/17. A 37% increase in 4 years means we’ll be lucky if this year’s 8% rate increase isn’t repeated every year.
I agree. WDC have successfully confused eevrybody so most people think that there has been a low increase. It is classic spin doctoring at work.
It seems to me that the targeted rates have been increased. I agree the report is confusing and my rates keep on rising.