The Clutha District Council is on track to maintain its rates cap, given its latest annual plan proposals are adopted unchanged.
The council meets in Balclutha this afternoon to review its 2022-23 annual plan proposals, before public consultation begins on Monday.
A headline average rates increase of 3.94%, projected in the 2021 long-term plan, will increase slightly to 3.97%, remaining below the council’s self-imposed cap of 4%.
In his accompanying statement, Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan highlights elements of the updated proposals, including potential changes to the way secondary, SUIP (separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit) rates are addressed.
SUIPs became a matter of controversy in August last year, after several ratepayers running home businesses complained to the council about a doubling of their total rates due to the policy.
In his statement, Mr Cadogan said proposed changes to SUIPs from July 1 would make the policy "clearer and more transparent", and allow for rates remission for some home businesses.
Remissions would be 50%, although for the secondary unit only, and applied to specific rating elements for that unit, including the uniform annual general charge (UAGC), water supply targeted rate and wastewater targeted rate.
Applications for remission would need to be made in writing to council chief executive Steve Hill.
High-profile projects receiving a budgetary boost under the latest proposals include the Clutha Gold Trail extension from Lawrence to Waihola, earmarked for an additional $200,000 allocation, bringing the council’s contribution to $1.2million.
Council regional tourism organisation Clutha Development is allocated a further $195,000 to continue Clutha Destination Plan implementation during 2022-23.
Mr Cadogan said that, overall, this year’s proposals were "prudent" and demonstrated "positive intent".
"The next few years will be defining for Clutha. We are finally seeing real growth and repair to the damage from a generation of relative inertia. But there is so much more that needs to be done. Ultimately, the maximising of our potential will come down to cohesive understanding and a positive attitude."
Public consultation will end on April 21, the finalised annual plan to be adopted on June 23.
