Dannevirke: Praise for keeping rates increase down

Raj Suppiah

The Tararua District Council has done well to keep its rates increase down, chief financial officer, Raj Suppiah told councillors last week.

"One of our objectives was to keep our rates increase close to, or lower than the cost of living index," Mr Suppiah said. "With our overall rates impact an average of 2.7 per cent, compared to our rates increase in our last long term plan of 4.6 per cent, we've done well. We must keep it affordable for the ratepayers and affordable for council to provide the services needed."

Mr Suppiah said looking forward to the 30-year infrastructure strategy, council has to consider the impact on residents and work out how to increase our district's population [to spread the rates burden].

"While setting our rates we have to look at council's level of service and ask, can we maintain this? The answer is yes, we can," Mr Suppiah said.

The council has tried to engage with ratepayers and not just tick the boxes, he said.

"We've held community stakeholder meetings and there's a roadshow with councillors and management visiting towns throughout the district and we're also using social media as an avenue as well."

Councillor Jim Crispin said council staff and the finance team had done a "fabulous job."

"I'm impressed," he said. "You've used fiscally sound practices."