The Local Body Rates Heist thread

[nztx]

WAIKATO:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/hamilt...HKVUS3BXFSETA/


Hamilton City Council to propose $6.3b spend, ‘dramatic’ rates rises over 10 years

At its next full meeting, Hamilton City Council will propose a budget of $6.3 billion to keep the city running for the next 10 years.

To “balance the books”, the council said it would need to increase rates by an average of 19.9 per cent - $11 per week - in the next financial year.

This would be followed by an average 15.5 per cent in rates rises each financial year to 2029, a 9 per cent increase in 2029/30 and 5 per cent rates rises each year after that to 2034.

Meanwhile, properties with a pool are in for an even higher targeted rates rise next financial year: an increase of 22.3 per cent.

The council’s billion-dollar budget, and the proposed rates increases, were revealed in a draft 2024-34 Long Term Plan consultation document attached to Thursday’s full council meeting agenda, where elected members will vote to approve the document and its “underlying information”.

According to the draft consultation document, “rates have not kept up” with increasing costs and the council has been “using the city’s mortgage” to build new roads, buy land for community assets, invest in residential and industrial land and roll out free rubbish and recycling collection services.

You poor unfortunate sods up in the Waikato - even more so if you have one of those deep holes in the ground out back filled with water for an occasional dip - you going to really attract extra extraction attention from your friendly local pocket lightening Raters & Rippers .. "To Balance the Books"