What was the average % rates increase in Rodney District Council?
The average rates increase for 2009/10 is 4.9%. This is an average across the whole district and not every property-owner will find their rates increase by this amount, as it depends on a number of factors such as the services a property receives.
What are the main factors which contributed to this increase?
Charges for regional amenities – such as the Auckland Zoo, MOTAT and other regional facilities make up a significant part of the rates increase. Inflationary cost increases have also had an effect.
Why have you changed the Transport/Araparera/Orewa Business Improvement rates to Capital Value?
The Council believes that a capital value rating system has some advantages over a land value based system. The main advantage is that there is generally a stronger relationship between a property’s capital value and the demand it places on Council services – for example a bare section will have a lower capital value and also places lower demands on Council services.
For this reason the Council decided to set the transport rate, Araparera Forestry Rate and Orewa Business Improvement rates based on a property’s value.
Why have you changed the name of the Democracy & Development Rate to Civic Leadership?
The renaming provides a clearer indication of what the rate funds—i.e.: the cost of managing the political function of council.
Why have you introduced a Uniform Annual General Charge
UAGC’s are becoming increasingly widely used by Councils throughout New Zealand. A UAGC is a fixed charge which is applied to each household, and is not related to the value of a property. There are some Council services which all properties benefit equally from so it is appropriate that some services be funded through the UAGC.
Why has the Leisure Centre Rate been charged as a separate rate this year?
Hibiscus Coast ratepayers have contributed towards part of the cost of funding the Leisure Centre for a number of years. This year the Council decided to show how much that contribution is so that people have a better understanding of how their rates are spent.
Most Council-owned recreation facilities throughout NZ are partially funded by ratepayers, as well as receiving income from user charges. The ratepayer contribution recognises that there are benefits to the wider community from having recreation facilities available to the community.
Why are Commercial & Industrial properties charged for the Leisure Centre?
The Leisure Centre is one of the many community facilities which attract staff and customers to the area, which benefits our commercial sector.
Why have the Kawau Is property owners been charged Civic Leadership and the full UAGC rate?
A UAGC is a fixed charge which is applied to each household, and is not related to the value of a property. There are some Council services which all properties benefit equally from so it is appropriate that these services be funded through the UAGC.
Civic leadership covers costs such as the cost of communicating with ratepayers, the costs of Council meetings and preparing submissions to other organisations. These activities are things that all ratepayers benefit from and therefore contribute toward – for example, the Council has spent a considerable amount of time at Council meetings discussing Environment Court cases relating to Kawau Island.
Why do we have to pay the Regional Amenities and Museums rate?
The Government recently introduced legislation which requires ratepayers from all Auckland councils to contribute towards the cost of maintaining a number of Auckland facilities such as the Coastguard, Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Philharmonic. Rodney District Council does not set these regional charges.
Why has the pan charge been replaced with Volumetric Wastewater?
The Council believes that setting wastewater charges based on usage rather than fixed charges is a fairer system. Setting charges based on people’s usage means that people have more control over how much they are charged for wastewater and is also better for the environment as it encourages people to conserve water.
Why have you included non-water metered properties in Volumetric WW charging?
Non-metered properties have a fixed charge equivalent to the pan charge previous paid by all properties connected to the wastewater network.
How will you decide if I am to be charged fixed charge or volumetrically for wastewater?
If you are connected to the wastewater network and have a council metered water supply you will be charged volumetrically for wastewater. If you have no meter, or use less than 120 cubic metres per annum you will have a fix charge.
Why have you introduced a Farming rating category?
To recognise that our farming sector has a heavier service requirement, particularly the effect of heavy stock transport on our roads, than the rural lifestyle sector.
Why have you changed to one financial division?
We are not aware of any other council in New Zealand who operate a system that is similar to the separate financial divisions used by Rodney until recently. Most councils operate one financial system and use targeted rates to fund services which benefit a particular area. This system is simpler to operate and makes it easier to identify who benefits from particular services and therefore who should pay for these.
The Council has now adopted this same system of having one financial district and continuing to use targeted rates to fund services which benefit particular communities. The change to one financial district should have very little if any financial impact on individual ratepayers.
Why have you made these changes given the impending “super city” change?
The changes that the Council has made this year to the rating system were made following public consultation on Rodney’s Long Term Council Community Plan. It is likely that the LTCCP will continue to be referred to for the next three years, even if Rodney becomes part of a Super City.
The Government has indicated that they want councils to continue to operate on a business as usual basis and this means that it is appropriate for councils to continue to review their existing policies as they would normally do.
My rateable value is higher than the value of my property, how can you use these values when they are wrong?
Rateable values were set as at 1 September 2007. This is the value in place, and used by council, until the next rating cycle. On some occasions, as in the current downturn of property values, that historical value and therefore current rates may differ from a property’s perceived value