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Groups give feedback on Auckland Council and Rodney Local Board plans.
There was near deafening debate in Warkworth this month, as people packed into the Old Masonic Hall to discuss Auckland Council’s proposed budget.
About 40 people attended the event along with about 10 Council and Rodney Local Board representatives and staff.
Attendees were arranged in groups of about 10 people to discuss proposed rates changes and the Local Board’s spending priorities.
Predictably, roads and traffic were prominent in the group discussions. Another hot topic was the proposal to reduce rates for farms, with a number of farmers attending the meeting to make their support clear.
A Council staff member arrived after attending a consultation event in Takapuna where only four people showed up.
The feedback from the event will be released in a report later this month.
Council is consulting on reducing the rates differential for landowners of properties over 50 hectares. On average, this would reduce the rates paid by those farmers by $1200 a year. This would be paid for by a $3.70 general rates increase.
Council is also consulting on changing the fixed proportion of rates, known as the Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC). The rate is currently set at $397. Council wants to know where people want it set, between $350 and $650.
Council also wants feedback on increasing the Interim Transport Levy by $224 for businesses and decreasing the levy by $24 for residential properties. This would bring the differential paid by businesses and residential properties in line with the differential paid in general rates. Council also wants feedback on basing the transport levy on property values for businesses, rather than a fixed fee.
Consultation on the budget closes on March 24.
Make a submission online at shapeauckland.co.nz/consultations/annual-budget-20162017/
