Tauranga's rates could increase 13.7 percent next year, with commissioners insisting it is necessary to pay for the infrastructure required for a growing city.
Tauranga homeowners could pay up to $8.11 extra per week in rates. Photo: 123rf
Tauranga City Council meet yesterday to confirm amendments to the 2022/2023 Annual Plan and 2021-2031 Long-term Plan.
The changes included an increase in rates from the 12.4 per cent originally proposed to 13.7 percent, and a shift in the commercial differential from 23 percent to 27 percent.
Further increases to user fees and charges and a 15 percent increase in development contributions were also proposed.
The extra investment was expected to help fund transport infrastructure and the proposed rebuild of the Tauranga Civic Precinct.
Consultation on the amended Long-term Plan and Annual Plan began today and runs until 26 April.
In 2020, Tauranga's dysfunctional council was sacked, and commissioners were installed to govern the city. This month it was announced the commissioners would stay in place until at least 2024.
Commissioner Stephen Selwood said he knew the rates increase would be noticed, especially by those in the low residential band.
"If we don't increase the rates and make the investments, then communities right across the city will pay in other ways, in inadequate services, poor transportation and high housing prices."
Commissioner Stephen Selwood Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Sun Media - John Borren
Selwood said people often focus only on percentage increases which were "misleading".
"We count dollars more than we count percentages."
The rates increases were broken down into a weekly dollar amount for each residential bracket.
Homeowners with a capital value of $495,000 (low residential) would pay $3.49 extra per week; a capital value of $790,000 would see an increase of $4.18; a $980,000 capital value would attract a $4.82 increase.
The upper quartile owners with a value of $1.2 million would pay $4.62 more each week and high residential with a value in excess of $3.5 million would pay $8.11 extra a week.
Selwood said: "If you can afford a $3.5m property, you can probably afford $8.11".
The commercial sector would also see rates increase and the shift in differential means the commercial sector would pay a larger portion of rates than residential property owners.
"Moving the fair share across to the commercial sector and also increasing fees across various schedules of charges means that we have a much more beneficiary pays approach," said Selwood.
"The benefit of that has been that the burden on individual ratepayers is significantly lower than they might otherwise have expected."
A commercial property in the lower quartile with a value of $865,000 would pay $18.55 extra per week in rates; the median commercial band would pay $30.21 more; upper quartile properties of $3.3 million would pay $61.50.
High commercial properties with a capital value of more than $41 million would see an increase of $715.82 each week.
Commission Chair Anne Tolley said one important thing that had come from conversations with residents in the past year was who paid a fair share of the rates.
"The feeling that was expressed to us very firmly, was residents felt they were carrying too big a load," said Tolley.
"I think we've responded to that, and I think the commercial sector have responded successfully and constructively to that."
Commission chair Anne Tolley. Photo: supplied
A targeted transport rate was also proposed that would see commercial ratepayers pay $3.33 for every dollar a residential ratepayer does. This would move to $5 for every dollar in two years.
Tolley said the consultation documents were "exceptionally important" and contained some "exciting opportunities" for the city.
One project all the commissioners seem most excited about is the civic precinct redevelopment, Te Manawataki o Te Papa.
Two options were proposed: a full rebuild, that includes a library, museum, civic whare and development of the waterfront reserve with a cost of $303.4 million.
The other would include a library and community hub and the civic whare, with a cost of $126.8 million.
Tolley said people needed to decide if they want to create a "vibrant, exciting centre city" or "an ordinary civic centre".
Selwood labelled the precinct "an incredible opportunity for the city".
Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston said he understood the concerns from ratepayers that the cost of the precinct may impact rates.
"We have to think about this in a broader context in terms of what we're trying to seek and deliver for our city."
Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Sun Media - John Borren
Feedback can be submitted through the Tauranga City Council website, via post or email and at community events to be held around the city during the month.
Formal hearings are planned for May, after the consultation closes.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air