LGOIMA Requests

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I refer to your official information request dated 23 March 2022, requesting the percentage increase of the rates between 2008 and 2021.

You have requested the rates increases from 2008-2021 which is 13yrs.  Rates increases are included within the Annual plan and Long Term Plan documents on the Council website.  The website contains information from 2021/22 back to 2012/13 financial year (10 years).

To go further back then that will require manual archive searches which is time consuming and would attract a charge.  If you do wish for this information, then a quote for time can be provided.

Rates increases are result of budget adjustments for existing levels of service (the increasing costs of doing the same activity) combined with any changes to levels of services (new activities council has undertaken).

The increases outlined below reflect the increase in the rates requirement for Council from one year to the next,  they are not necessarily the actual increase that each ratepayer will receive.

An individual rates invoice is dependent on:

• Capital value (and movements in value from one year to the next),
• Location, classification (Rural vs CBD)
• Number of connections to services (such as connections to a rural water scheme)
• Number of separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit (SUIP).
• Any rebates or remissions that have been applied (please see the website for further details on the available rates remissions and rebates

The rates increases for the years that are digitally available on the website are reflected in the table below. 

This information is visible in the first couple of pages of the document in the Mayors introduction.

 2012/132013/142014/152015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/22Total increase      6.60%5.64%1.43%7.75%Less growth portion*      -1.60%-1.74%-1.70%-1.70%Less new LOS      -0.20%   Rates increase      4.80%3.90%-0.27%5.75%Published Rates increase2.9%5.3%5%5.3%`4.6%3.9%4.8%3.9%-0.27%5.75%

 

*Growth portion recognises the amount of the rates that are funded by the increase in the number of rateable properties.  The intention of removing this portion is to reflect the impact on the existing rateable properties.

This level of information was not outlined in years prior to 2018/19.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact Brent White on 06 323 0000.

Warm regards,