My Account
The Board finalised its 2015/16 budget at a meeting last month. It includes a 20 per cent drop in total spending by the Board, from $28.1 million to $22.4 million. This does not include spending by Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) and regional expenditure such as libraries.
This is set against a backdrop of an increased rate take by Auckland Council, from $64 million to $70 million a year.
The new funding agreement between the Board and Council was adopted last month. Member Greg Sayers registered the only vote against the agreement. He accused Council of “rates gouging”.
“I don’t think ratepayers want Board members to agree to these cuts,” he said. “It’s unreasonable to see that level of continued rates gouging. Ratepayers are screaming out for a fair share and I’m using my vote as a protest.
“It’s not an indictment of the Local Board. We do our best to be prudent with what little we have.”
At the Board meeting Mr Sayers also criticised a lack of transparency in CCO’s, which were unable to provide a breakdown of spending in each local board area.
In the funding agreement, capital expenditure increases from $8.3 million to $9.2 million. The big cuts have come to operational expenditure, which has dropped $6.5 million, from $19.7 million to $13.1 million.
Long-term, there are further cuts signalled. The Board’s total budget drops to $18.5 million in 2017/18 before slowly rebuilding to $24.3 million in 2024/25.
“The major projects are the Warkworth Town Hall and showgrounds. Once they’re completed the spending drops dramatically. But at the same time the rates take for Rodney is expected to grow to $100 million,” Mr Sayers says.
The 2015/16 figures do not include overheads. Final budgets are expected to be released this month.
Local Parks, Sports and Recreation – $7.38 million capital, $8.45 million operational
Walkways and bike trails – $330,000
Sport fields upgrades, Warkworth and Huapai – $960,000
Warkworth Showgrounds development – $3.2 million
Toilet upgrades, Warkworth and Kumeu – $87,000
Footpaths – $750,000
Business case for Warkworth Showgrounds multisport facility – $50,000
Planning and concept design for Warkworth pool – $70,000
Greenways plans – $40,000
Playground in Warkworth or Kumeu – $104,000
Skatepark in Wellsford or Snells Beach – $83,000
Investigate and plan indoor sports facilities, Kumeu/Huapai/Helensville – $20,000
Enhance existing playgrounds to make them more challenging – $100,000
Support volunteers in parks – $81,000
Parks minor improvement fund – $28,000
Local Community Services: $1.86 million capital, $3.3 million operational
Complete stage one of Warkworth Town Hall upgrade – $1.1 million
Community and library facility renewal – $735,000
Kumeu Arts Centre expansion feasibility study – $10,000
Operational support for Rodney art facilities – $60,000
Old Wellsford Library property costs – $20,000
Community-led place making initiatives – $40,000
Rodney Youth Advisory Panel support – $6000
ANZAC ceremonies support – $18,000
Community grants contestable/non-contestable – $249,000
Local Civic Functions – $18,000
Rural halls assistance – $25,000
Hall fees subsidies – $13,000
Local Planning and Development: $2 million capital, $324,000 operational
Planning mainstreet upgrades through implementing town centre plans – $30,000
BID establishment and projects for Te Hana, Wellsford and Warkworth – $33,000
Implementing economic development plan for Rodney – $25,000
Local Environmental Management: $187,000 operational
Community-led environmental restoration and sustainability projects – $50,000
Sustainable living initiatives – $10,000
Implement ecological survey work – $50,000
Local Governance: $1 million operational
Strategic advice on Council-wide initiatives and regional planning
Development of 2016/17 local board agreement
Democracy, administrative and engagement support to elected members
