An 18-month process which could have cost about half a million dollars came to an end for the Waitaki District Council yesterday when it formally adopted a 10-year long-term plan that includes a 1.7% rise in total rates collected next financial year.
A long-term plan (LTP) has to be prepared every three years by all local authorities outlining projects, budgets and rates increases for the next 10 years.
Waitaki's may have cost ratepayers about $500,000, which includes staff time and audit fees, although this is only an estimate at this stage.
Waitaki debated its LTP on May 27 and made final decisions about what to include or leave out after considering about 140 submissions.
Since then, the final plan has been prepared and audited for formal approval yesterday.
