Environment Canterbury is proposing no increase in its overall rates take for the next financial year.
The regional council, which also covers part of the Waitaki district, has finalised its 2011-12 draft annual plan, its Government-appointed commissioners reviewing and reprioritisng strategies and programmes to achieve a budget which will collect the same $74 million from rates as this financial year.
The proposal now goes out for public comment.
Commissioner David Bedford said although the decision to hold the overall rates take was made before the February 22 earthquake, it was even more important now for the organisation to reprioritise, and to allocate its resources to key areas of work.
However, the proposal includes a reduction in targeted rates for specific services paid by some ratepayers, but an increase in the general rate.
Targeted rates will drop by 8.1% (from $35.82 million this financial year to $32.92 million in 2011-12) and the general rate will increase by 7.6% (from $38.3 million to $41.2 million).
"Our total rates take is a mixture of targeted rates for specific purposes, and general rates, and so the impact of the changes will vary across the region depending on particular work programmes under way in the area, and the effect of recent property revaluations," Mr Bedford said.
The effect of reducing the targeted rates take by 8.1%, which accounted for one-third of the overall take, and increasing the general rate take by 7.6%, would be a nil increase in rates collected overall, he said.
Public consultation started on March 14 and closes on April 15.
Hearings are scheduled for May 2 in Timaru and May 3 and 4 in Christchurch.
The final plan will be adopted, and rates struck, on June 23.