New look rates bills arrive in Rodney residents’ letterboxes

Auckland Council’s first combined rates notices were due to be delivered to ratepayers in the former Rodney District Council area on Friday July 29.

The new-look notice combines the former Auckland Regional Council rates and former local council rates into one Auckland Council rates bill.

Council is required by legislation to establish a Transition Rate for 2011/12, which means all targeted rates and other charges on the former local and regional council rates bills will be merged into one, with the exception of wastewater rates.

The transition rate has been set at 3.94 per cent.

Rates provide 53 percent of Council’s income with the rest coming from grants, subsidies, development and financial contributions, user charges and fees.

Some of Council’s funding priorities this year are:
• Transforming Wynyard Quarter and Queens Wharf
• Protecting and enhancing Auckland’s harbours, beaches, islands and coastline
• Public library for Wellsford
• A new park at Millwater subdivision in Silverdale
• Huapai Sports Field upgrade
• Construction of a rock breakwater on the eastern side of the Gulf Harbour boat ramp.

Former Rodney District Council ratepayers will continue to pay their rates in four instalments. However, a 1.5 percent discount is applied on rates if they are paid in full by the due date of the first instalment.

Former Rodney ratepayers will continue to pay Watercare (a separate Auckland Council Controlled Organisation) for their water and part of their wastewater service, and Auckland Council for their fixed wastewater charge.

The wastewater utility charge will continue to appear on the rates bill and is subject to a standard annual increase of 4.5 percent.