A projected rates rise of 9% has been cut by almost two-thirds by the seven Environment Canterbury commissioners appointed by the Government to run the Christchurch-based regional council.
The commissioners on Thursday approved the annual plan for the coming year with a 3.3% increase in total rates take.
The general rate will decrease by 0.5%, compared with 2009-10. The draft plan had proposed a 3.9% increase.
The rates are a combination of targeted rates for specific communities and programmes, and general rates for programmes common to all Canterbury ratepayers.
That means the effect of the rates rise will vary from property to property, some getting a reduction and others having increases greater than the 3.3%.
Total expenditure for 2010-11 will be $134 million, compared with $124 million in this financial year.
The council received 438 submissions on its draft annual plan and commissioners heard verbal submissions from about 90 representatives or individuals.
As a result of submissions, changes were made to the 2010-11 work plan, addressing water management and the need to reduce rate increases.
Funding to implement the Canterbury water management strategy has been increased by $3.2 million. This includes a freshwater biodiversity protection-restoration programme. The total budget for the strategy is $4 million.
A new charge on water consent holders will be introduced to recover 30% of the cost of scientific investigation and monitoring work for water management. The remaining 70% will continue to come from general rates.
Examples of the effect of the rates increase provided by ECan were (excluding GST). -
Part of Waitaki district:
- Rural property, $1.653 million capital value (cv): 17% increase from $544 to $636.
- Rural property, $6.975 million cv: 6% decrease from $2797 to $2631.
- Kurow urban, $245,000 cv: 14% increase from $132 to $150.
- Otematata urban, $170,000 cv: 4% decrease from $67 to $65.
Mackenzie district:
- Rural property, $3.8 million cv: 8% increase from $1489 to $1603.
- Rural property, $2.55 million cv: 8% increase from $913 to $985.
- Fairlie urban, $185,000 cv: 3% increase from $99 to $103.
- Tekapo urban, $480,000 cv: 7% decrease from $194 to $180.
- Twizel urban, $195,000 cv: 3% increase from $80 to $82.
Waimate district:
- Rural property $2.35 million cv: 4% decrease from $1086 to $1039.
- Waimate urban, $195,000 cv: 2% decrease from $92 to $91.