The policy is open for submissions until September 15 and council corporate services manager Heather Kinsey said the proposals were up for discussion.
‘‘These are our ideas and now it's time for the public to have their say,'' Mrs Kinsey said.
One of the major changes is the introduction of four ‘‘bands'' within the Vincent board boundary, to allow differential rating for facilities such as Molyneux Aquatic Centre. Vincent includes the towns of Alexandra, Clyde, Omakau and St Bathans and the surrounding areas.
The first band would extend to Alexandra's boundary while the next would extend to Clyde. The next circle would reach as far as Chatto Creek. The fourth band would cover from Chatto Creek to the Vincent boundary.
‘‘The idea is to make a fairer distribution of the rates, so that people closest to the facilities and getting the benefit from them should pay more than those further away,'' she said.
‘‘For example, if we're thinking of the Molyneux pool, then in Clyde you're so close you could bike there, while people in St Bathans are about an hour's drive away, so it's not fair they should pay as much [in their rates] for the pool as someone who lives in Alexandra or Clyde.''
Alexandra businessman Russell Anderson, who called a public meeting in May about the effect of ward boundary changes on rates, urged ratepayers to study the policy and express their views.
‘‘This policy is reviewed every three years, so it's important that you get a copy of this report, read it in depth and be fully aware of its implications and how it will impact on you,'' he said.
Mr Anderson was one of 340 ratepayers affected by the boundary changes earlier this year. The boundary of the Alexandra ward altered to include his home, which was previously in the Earnscleugh-Manuherikia ward. He was shocked to discover his rates would increase because he was now paying more towards Alexandra-based recreational and cultural facilities.
About 80 people attended the meeting in May about the boundary changes and urban and rural ratepayers near Alexandra reported rates rises of between 40 per cent and 60 per cent as a result of the changes.
Mrs Kinsey said the other major change proposed was the removal of the differential on targeted rates in Cromwell for parks and reserves and swimming pools. This was to bring the ward in line with Roxburgh and Maniototo wards, which rated ‘‘across the board'' for those facilities.
Based on this year's rates, removing the differential would decrease the average rate in urban areas by about $60 and increase the average rate in rural areas by $80.
‘‘It's up to the public now to let us know what they think.''
In the past, Maniototo ratepayers shared in the cost of Clutha River management. If the draft proposal is adopted, residents in Maniototo - the only ward that does not have the Clutha River in it - will no longer have to pay for that.
- Copies of the draft proposal are available at council offices.
