Long Term Council Community Plan adopted, rate increase held to 2.8%

Franklin District Council has adopted the “Franklin District Council Community Plan 2009-19 – working together for our future” with the average rate increase for the coming year reduced from the 4.1% originally proposed, to 2.8%.

Franklin District Mayor Mark Ball says the blueprint was challenging this year for two reasons. “It is fair to say that this work was made more difficult this year by two external factors - the world wide economic downturn and the changes to Auckland governance following the report of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.”

“Our response to the economic downturn has been to budget very carefully, ensuring that rate increases are kept to a minimum and that the effect of any increase is spread equitably across the whole community. We are very pleased that the increase in District wide rates has been held to 2.8%, while at the same time maintaining all services at current levels.”

Some of the key decisions that Council has made following public consultation and hearing submissions include;

Pensioner Housing rents – rents for pensioner flats will be increased progressively over the next three years.
Over the River Roading Rate – This targeted rate will be discontinued immediately, resulting in considerable savings to those properties which previously paid this specific rate.
Council Accommodation Building – This project has been removed from the Plan.
Wastewater Funding Policy – The policy for this activity has been changed back to 100% private good, and continues to be fully funded by users.
Rates Postponement Policy – The five year write off provision has been reinstated.
Open Spaces – budgets to purchase land for future reserves have been reduced by $1.4M.
Development Contributions – A new policy allowing developers to partially defer payment of development contributions will be introduced from 1 July for the next two years.

Copies of the “Franklin District Council Community Plan 2009-19 – working together for our future” will be available from Council offices and on our website www.franklin.govt.nz from the second week of July.