Rates review booklet to be launched this month

A booklet explaining the reasons for a major overhaul of the rating system in the Far North will be distributed to ratepayers across the district within the next week to 10 days.

The brochure, designed to take a neutral look at the way rates are levied and providing options for the future, will be supported by an extensive website campaign.

This will include a working model through which individual ratepayers can look up the impact on their properties under a Capital Value rating base and make comparisons with the Land Value system currently used.

Revenue & Policy Manager Chris Ellington said today that to make absolutely sure all ratepayers had an opportunity to assess the impact of any change, letters would be sent to every ratepayer setting out the various rating options. These letters should be in the post within the next three weeks.

The options to be assessed in comparison with the present Land Value system include:-

Capital Value with no other changes
Capital Value with the Ward Rates amalgamated into the General Rate
Capital Value but with a separate targeted rate for roading
Capital Value with a targeted rate for roading but with a wider range of differentials for the General Rates
 

In addition, the existing Land Value differentials and the use and level of the Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) will also be the subject of review.

"The intention is to achieve a robust, transparent, practical, fair and equitable rating formula to carry the Far North into the future.

"This is not a way to get more money from ratepayers. The council needs a set amount each year to operate and changing the system does not change how much money we will need in that particular year. It also must be emphasised that no decisions have yet been made- the booklet and the review process are designed to find out what the community thinks about the options available under existing legislation.

"With the assistance of feedback from the community, the council will decide what if any option it wishes to follow and a full consultative programme will be initiated as part of the Long Term Council Community Plan (the Far North Future Plan) review early next year," he said.