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Spending plans for the coming financial year by Auckland Council and Rodney Local Board are open for public feedback until the end of the month.
Council’s proposed Annual Plan (budget) includes the first chunk of extra money allocated to Rodney as part of its “fairer funding” approach agreed by councillors in their 10-year Long-term Plan last year.
The new scheme apportions money to local boards on three criteria – population (80 per cent), levels of deprivation (15 per cent) and land area (five per cent) – which council says will begin to address funding imbalances between the 21 boards that have existed since the Supercity was created in 2010.
For Rodney Local Board, this means an extra $8 million in its operational expenditure (opex) budget and another $1 million for capital spending (capex) for the coming financial year.
As a result, the board plans to invest $8.2 million in capex to renew and develop assets, and $26.2 million in opex to maintain and operate existing assets, as well as delivering local activities (see table).
All the capex will be spent on community services, while the opex will be shared between three services – community ($24 million), environmental ($600,000) and planning ($300,000), plus $1.3 million on governance.
Council’s group chief financial officer, Ross Tucker, said the board’s spending priorities for the year were included in the Annual Plan consultation document and he encouraged residents to take a look and provide feedback.
Other key points in the plan include a proposed 5.8 per cent rates increase, the introduction of a bed night visitor levy to fund marketing and major events, and the introduction of a targeted rate for refuse collection in Rodney and Franklin.
There are also changes proposed for some council services, such as fees for dog adoption, cemeteries and cremation, and baches.
Mayor Wayne Brown said council was here to serve Auckland ratepayers, so it was important they had their say on what was being planned.
“We want the community’s thoughts on a bed night levy to fund major events like bringing the America’s Cup back to Auckland, hosting NRL rugby league matches, the ASB Classic and concerts like Coldplay and Taylor Swift. None of these will happen without it, as I won’t rate struggling households to fill hotels,” he said.
“This is also a chance to tell us what they want from their Local Boards and on the proposed rates for the next year. My message to Aucklanders is speak up, help inform our decision-making.”
There will be a public event for people to have their say on the annual plan at the Rodney Local Board offices at 3 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth this Wednesday, March 19, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. Prior registration is essential – email rodneylocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Consultation is open until 11.59pm on Friday, March 28.
Info and feedback forms: Available at libraries, council service centres and online at https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/annual-plan-2025-2026
Rodney Local Board priorities in 2025/2026:
• improve services for all communities, with better libraries, art and youth programmes
• promote physical activity and recreation by increasing play opportunities in more places
• support community groups, volunteers and mana whenua to improve work to protect and restore our environment, particularly for waterways and wetlands, while promoting waste reduction
• increase maintenance service levels, such as pest control, mowing popular reserves more often, and repairing tracks and car parks
• support the Rodney Greenways Plan to provide more walking, cycling and horse riding opportunities
• prepare and review plans for reserves to make sure they meet community needs
• improve the safety of our community and environment through increased education, monitoring and compliance.
