The Timaru District Council is asking the whole community to join the conversation and help guide its priorities over the next decade.
The council has opened consultation on its draft Long Term Plan (LTP), and is asking for public submissions on it before May 12.
The Long Term Plan is a document that sets out council spending, priorities and budgets for the next 10 years. It is reviewed every three years.
Timaru district mayor Nigel Bowen said the focus of this plan was on striking a balance between rates affordability and meeting levels of service delivery.
"My priorities are getting the basic infrastructure right, then it’s about delivering as many of the things you’ve previously told us you want as we can, while setting our council on a strong and sustainable long-term financial standing," Mr Bowen said.
"Timaru District has some of the lowest rates in the country, and while on one hand it is a sign the council was run in a fiscally prudent and conservative way, it also meant that in previous years we may not have been putting enough money in the bank to replace our infrastructure when it was needed.
"Events such as the Rangitata bridge failing a few days ago have brought into real focus the need to ensure our critical infrastructure is in good shape for now and [for the] future.
"You won’t see a proposal to go from the bottom of the rates pack to the top, but our rates need to be set at a sensible level to cover the cost of providing the services you use every day while also ensuring we can replace the pipes, the roads and the bridges when it becomes necessary."
Four of the main issues the council is seeking feedback on are:
- Balancing its approach to debt to deliver projects: Do people agree with the council’s proposals to set its debt cap at 2.5 times its income over the 10-year plan?
- Ensuring the council balances income and costs: How fast should it balance the budget, reduce its deficit and pay off debt?
- Balancing the things people use with the things they enjoy: Has the council got the balance of spending right over the 10-year plan?
- Balancing user pays with common good: How should the council set its fees over the next 10 years?
The consultation period runs until 5pm on May 12.
