General rates made up the lion's share of WDC's annual revenue at $52.5 million, through a UAGC and a value-based rate assessed on land value rather than capital value.
Under the system, the owners of a 1.4ha lifestyle property at Maungatapere worth $400,000 and those who owned a $510,000 property in Maunu paid less ($1367 and $1548 respectively) than the owners of a $160,000, 600sq m property on Raumanga's Smeaton Drive ($1606). Although only the latter paid the targeted $660 sewage rate.
Council had a number of targeted rates to fund sewage disposal, refuse management, water supply, Hikurangi Swamp and various roading schemes.
While a commercial sector review was completed under the 2016/17 Annual Plan, no changes were made to rating systems.
This review would focus on general rates, including the use of land value versus capital value, the use and definition of SUIPs, rating categories, stepped residential rates, sector splits, targeted rates and remission and postponement policies.
Council staff would develop a process and timeframe for the review and bring it back to councillors in the next month or so.
There would be a lengthy pre-consultation phase with ratepayers, before the council progressed to formal consultation in March 2018, which would form part of the 2018-28 Long Term Plan (LTP) adopted in June.
In his report, presented to WDC's Finance and Corporate Committee last Thursday, group manager support services Alan Adcock said it was good practice to undertake regular reviews of council activities.
WDC Finance and Corporate Committee chairwoman Shelley Deeming said council would talk to ratepayers about their concerns about the current system and suggestions for improvement.
"Council's rates revenue is $88m. That is a serious amount of money and we have to be fair about the way we gather it. We must listen to the community it came from, and use its money wisely."
