'Community can't afford it': Gore faces 21% rates hike

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Author: Sandy Eggleston
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times: Web Edition Articles (New Zealand)

Councillors considered the draft annual plan report written by interim chief executive Stephen Parry at a full council meeting yesterday

In the report, Mr Parry outlined eight areas where costs had increased, including insurance, maintenance of council buildings, depreciation and roading.

Initially, after all council budgets were submitted to corporate support general manager Lornae Straith, the rates increase would have been 40% but Ms Straith "worked assiduously to whittle the rates increase down to 31.7%", Mr Parry said.

Further cost cuts were found to end up with the present proposed increase of 21.4%.

Speaking to his report, Mr Parry said this budget was the "most challenging" he had faced in his time at the council.

"These rates increases proposed are abnormal and a reflection on, I think, a deeper-lying problem which is the sustainability of funding at local government."

The public would be able to make submissions on the draft annual plan, Mr Parry said.

Gore District Mayor Ben Bell said the council...