Tasman rates to rise less than 1 per cent

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Tasman ratepayers can expect lower than forecast rate increases and council debt levels next year according to the Tasman District Council’s Annual Plan for 2017-18.

The Plan sets out the Council’s rates, debt, projects and levels of service.

Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne says while the exact details of next year’s rates and debt will be confirmed early next year, the Council’s total rates income excluding growth was likely to be well under 1%.

Similarly, the Council’s debt levels would be around $156m, $38M less than the $194 million forecast in the LTP.

“There will be some changes to the projects we deliver next year compared with those listed in the LTP – and that is largely a timing issue where some works have been delayed by various factors and will now be completed in 2017 rather than 2016.

“The only other changes to what was consulted on during development of the LTP are the rate and debt levels, which are going to be far better than we had hoped.”

A community engagement process will occur in early 2017, where councillors and Council staff will travel throughout the District and attend events in order to talk to residents and ratepayers about the details of the plan and gather informal feedback from the community.

The process will not involve formal submissions and hearings.