DCC Budget

Dunedin budgeting service providers say they will apply for the new pool of Government funds announced yesterday.

From increasing dog registration fees, to reducing stadium-related debt faster, the Dunedin City Council is seeking feedback on its draft budget for the next financial year.

The gates to the Dunedin Chinese Garden could soon be thrown open, as part of a new scheme offering Dunedin ratepayers free access to the city's cultural attractions while tourists are required to pay.

Plans for a new 24-hour toilet in the Octagon are expected to be unveiled within months.

The implications and costs of providing new or upgraded gymnastic facilities for Dunedin are to be investigated by Dunedin City Council staff before councillors start considering their 2014-15 budget.

Plans for a new pool at Mosgiel - or improvements to Dunedin's existing Moana Pool - need to be progressed more quickly, a Dunedin city councillor says.

At least one Dunedin community board has a firm position regarding what the Dunedin City Council should spend any extra savings on.

Fears reform of the local government sector poses a serious threat to the Dunedin City Council's group of companies and their activities are to be investigated.

Dunedin city councillors have agreed to increase landfill user charges in March without public consultation, in order to recover about $80,000 in costs all ratepayers would otherwise have to carry.

A decade of discipline is needed to protect the Dunedin City Council's fragile finances until debt repayments ease the fiscal squeeze, council chief executive Paul Orders says.

Dunedin city councillors will gather behind closed doors today to get to grips with an early budget that forecasts a rates rise of just 2.8% for the coming financial year.

Dunedin city councillors will have to choose between a 2.8% rates rise and extra spending on key priorities - including debt repayment - that will drive up the bill for ratepayers.

This year's $160,000 Dunedin City Council industry project fund budget will be allocated to the conveners of the eight headline projects outlined in the Economic Development Strategy (EDS) instead of other Dunedin companies.

Ratepayers will fork out up to an extra $2.16 million to fund necessary work not included in original $39.2 million Otago Settlers Museum redevelopment project budget.

It is back to the drawing board for a plan on how best to address Te Rauone's erosion issues after Dunedin City councillors considering improvements to the reserve, and whether to invest in a breakwater rock wall to protect it and private properties against further erosion, resolved instead to discuss the issue further with affected parties.