Council gears up for consultation on proposed 10-year budget
The development of our Long-Term Plan 2024-34 has taken a step forward after Councillors adopted the draft consultation document.
The community will soon be invited to give feedback on the Council's proposed work plan for the next 10 years – and how it might get the funding to deliver it.
The public consultation period will run from 13 March 2024 until 14 April 2024.
There will be several ways to provide submissions, including through ecan.govt.nz/whatsthecost
Our core services
Options and price tags are outlined in the consultation document. It's split into three sections, reflecting the core services the Council provides:
- Environmental Regulation and Protection,
- Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards,
- Public Transport.
Download the Council agenda - 28 February 2024 (PDF file, 6.49MB) to read the consultation document.
Finding the balance
Chair Peter Scott said the proposals showed that the Council is walking a tightrope.
"It's been a real balance, as we weigh up the 'must-do' work with affordability.
"However, it's now up to the community to tell us which services are most important to them, and how they want their rates spent.
"For instance, would you support more investment in flood and river resilience if we had to cut back on regional park maintenance? Do you agree with a full-throttle approach to public transport investment? Are there services that you'd prefer us to wind back if it might reduce the potential costs to ratepayers?"
"What's the cost of taking action, vs the cost of not doing enough?"
The preferred $346.3 million work package for the first year (2024/25) would require a 24.2 per cent increase in revenue collected from rates. However, this would vary for each property, depending on its location, its value, and how targeted rates apply. The material we've produced includes examples showing the dollar impact on a range of properties across the region.
Scott said the proposed rates rise reflects the full impact of the pressures regional government is under, from central government policies, community expectations and the state of the environment.
"But what we'll want to know from you is – have we got it right?
"We have limited options to fund our work. About 60 percent of the proposed first-year costs would be covered by rates. Grants, fees and charges, and debt would fund the rest. All of our proposed options involve borrowing an extra $16.4 million. How does that sit with you?"
Proposals
Other proposals include:
- A targeted rate to properties in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, to help improve indigenous biodiversity outcomes in that area.
- A targeted rate for the Selwyn district to help fund river resilience in that area.
- Delivery of all Public Transport Futures' (Greater Christchurch Public Transport Futures Programme) network improvements over the next seven years.
- A fixed-fee approach for certain consenting work.
Scott encourages everyone to look through the proposals and start having conversations.
"We won't know what trade-offs you’re prepared to make, or if you’re comfortable with where we've landed unless you tell us."
A further statement will be issued closer to the start of the consultation period, with more information on how to give feedback.
To find out more about the types of rates and how they're collected, visit our rates page.