At Wednesday’s meeting, councillors decided to reduce a planned rates increase from an estimated 7.67% to 3.5%, bringing it in line with what was projected in the council’s 2018-28 long-term plan.
About 3.02% of the reduction came from using non-rates funds, such as the dividend from council-owned Whitestone Contracting.
Ratepayer contribution for several projects, including the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, the Heritage Fund and three waters services, were also reduced.
With so much uncertainty created by Covid-19, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said any rates increase needed to be kept as low as possible.
The rates rise was always likely to be lower than the proposed 7.67%, but the council had used "a slightly sharper knife", Mr Kircher said.
"There was a lot of work done [on Tuesday]," he said.
"It’s still only a draft, we will be looking at consulting the public and listening to what they have to say."
While keeping rates lower would help ease financial pressure on home-owners, it was important to ensure council services were maintained, he said.
Some councillors queried if a rates increase would bite harder next year.
"If we are looking at pinching from one place to push to another . . . it’s not saving us anything per se," Cr Melanie Tavendale said.
Cr Bill Kingan said hitting the 3.5% mark was important.
"Life changed four days ago and it might change a lot more," he said.
Allocating up to $2 million from the council’s disaster fund, which at present sits at $3.6 million, to bring forward planned projects and introduce others would help provide work for some people affected by the Covid-19 fallout, Mr Kircher said.
"This is an extremely difficult time for some of our most vulnerable people, and while it is great to see the Government’s response, we want to make sure that we are ready to help those who may fall through the gaps," he said.
"It is so important that we look out for each other, and I want to ensure we do that from both health and financial perspectives.”
An example of a possible employment opportunity was digitising the council’s 14,000 property files.
"There is double benefit there, providing a public service, and employing a number of people.
"This will allow us to get updated with some maintenance-type work, things that aren’t part of normal maintenance contracts."
The public can give feedback on two proposals, included in the 2020-21 draft annual plan, which will go out to consultation at a date yet to be confirmed.
