Waitaki District Council staff and councillors outnumbered the public last night at the first of four public meetings to outline the council's draft annual plan and rates for the next financial year.
At last night's meeting in the Opera House in Oamaru, 12 members of the public turned out to meet 14 councillors and staff.
The turnout could indicate satisfaction with the 2010-11 draft annual plan, which contains a 1.8% increase in the total rates take. Deputy mayor Gary Kircher had even better news for residential ratepayers - in most cases, their rates bills will fall. Because the value of agricultural properties had increased more than residential properties over the past three years, the rise for most farm owners will be greater than 1.8%.
However, three-quarters of the district ratepayers would face a 1.8% rise or less, Cr Kircher said.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said the public meetings would help councillors reach a final decision.
In its 10-year plan, the council had forecast a 5.9% rates increase for the next financial year, but pruned that back below the inflation rate.
It proposes to spend $39.08 million in the coming financial year, compared with $38.161 million this year.
Income is budgeted at $40.085 million compared with $44.454 million this year.
Of that income, $24.189 million will be collected in rates, compared with $23.764 million this year.
Other public meetings, all starting at 7pm, will be held at Otematata tonight, Palmerston tomorrow night and Five Forks on Thursday night.
