The council building from Willow St. Photo/John Borren
The council building from Willow St. Photo/John Borren
Public consultation on Tauranga City Council's draft Annual Plan for 2017 to 2018 is open until 5pm on April 20.
The Annual Plan process serves to update the work plans and budgets that Tauranga City Council has set through the Long Term Plan.
Significant differences to next year's budget are:
1. A proposal to fund $4m towards a new Visitor Information Centre in Mount Maunganui to support the growth of the tourism sector in Tauranga,
2. Requests from the Papamoa and Mount Mainstreet organisations to increase their targeted rates, which are paid by commercial ratepayers in each area, and
3. Some differences in planned rates and debt levels, with our fast-paced growth requiring that we re-prioritise investment and spend money sooner than planned.
This means a proposed rates increase of 3.8 per cent instead of the 3.5 per cent agreed through the Long Term Plan, net debt at $462m instead of $427m and the debt to revenue ratio at 221 per cent instead of 215 per cent.
These proposals are set out in a consultation document available at www.tauranga.govt.nz/annual-plan-2017-18, in the council Service Centre, 91 Willow St, and in local libraries.
