Rates reply

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 688, 27 May 1997, Page 5

Rates reply

Ruapehu District Council acting chief executive Chris Ryan replies to Winston Oliver's letter, page 4. There is nothing misleading at all about the information contained in the Ruapehu District News. That publication made it clear that all of the comparisons were as between the 1 996/97 Annual Plan and the 1 997/ 98 Draft Annual Plan. The actual rates strike determined by the council subsequent to the adoption of the 1996/97 Annual Plan, was in fact, less than that provided for within that document. That fact is highlighted in the fourth paragraph of the lead item of the Ruapehu District News. Turning to the matter of a 16.5% increase, a good portion of the front page of the Ruapehu District News was devoted to the impact that a district-wide revaluation of land values would have on ratepayers in the southern portion of the district. In the case of your correspondent, there must be an increase in land value in excess of 100% to produce a 16.5% increase in rates. By way of comparison, the typical rates schedule included in the Ruapehu District News used as an example, a rural Raetihi property which only had a 29% increase in land value and received a 16.5% decrease in rates. Council has been at pains to make clear to the readers of the Ruapehu District News that the major shift in land values across the District impact dramatically on some of our ratepayers in the Waimarino and Waiouru Wards. The funding situation is summarised very clearly on the front page of the Ruapehu District News. There will be a 2.6% increase overall in the funding derived by Council from the combined general roading and ward rates. These are the rates made on the dollar of land value which impact on the rural ratepayer. If one factors in the increased fundipg required in respect of urban based services, then Council requires a 3.8% increase in the total rates take. These increases can hardly be construed as massive especially in light of last year's rates holiday. The Council has made clear that its focus is on maintaining its existing asset base. The Capital Works Programme is so very clearly set out in the paper. The Capital Programme for 1997/98, over the six significant activities amounts to $2.2 million for the 1 997 1 98 year.