While affordability had been a huge part of the 495 submissions received by council as part of consultation of its annual plan, only 28 — or 5% — had a primary or sole focus in line with mayor Nobby Clark’s proposals.
The annual plan suggested a 9.47% increase for the 2025-26 financial year — 42 submitters requested managing of rates increases without mentioning a specific target and 31 mentioned affordability, a hearing document stated.
"Many mentioned that the number of consultants and staff should be cut to make savings. Some raised the specific challenge of paying rates for people on fixed incomes, including pensioners."
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times , Mr Clark said he heard many comments in support of his campaign, but he believed the format of the consultation document did not give the opportunity for people to specifically comment on the rates increase.
"I am bit disappointed, but I feel that I’ve done everything I could — and I hear a lot of feedback on the street saying ‘good on you’ to try to keep the rates down, but I told them ‘if you don’t submit, the council will not hear you’.
"The annual plan booklet also does not ask specific questions about rate increase. I think it should give a couple of options to the people to consider."
After two days of hearings, he believed the majority of the council would try to get a "middle-ground increase".
"I think they will try to get something around 7%."
Almost 40 submissions were opposed to the proposed reduction in funding for Stadium Southland, while only three opposed a reduction in Great South funding.
As part of the annual plan, the council was suggesting to cut funding to the two by 10% — both voiced their concerns, saying it would have an impact on the services provided.
It also received 181 submissions on the proposal to close the toilets at Wachner Pl — of those, 76 were for, and 73 against.
"Of those against the proposal, comments tended to be about how useful the facilities are ... The most common argument in favour of closing the Wachner Pl toilets was the fact that there are alternative facilities nearby."
Other hot topics were the water service delivery, with 75% of the 188 submitters agreeing with the council’s preferred option, which was to establish a council-operated enhanced service to retain water delivery in-house; as well as the regional public transport plan and bus fares, which received 171 submissions.
An increase in bus fares was proposed from $3 to $5 (cash) and $2.20 to $4 (card fare).
Deliberations on the annual plan were scheduled for May 13.
