Proposed Price Increases

We set user fees and charges to cover a proportion of the cost of operating some services. For instance, city swimming pools are 40 percent funded from user charges.

This helps ensure that those who directly benefit from services pay an appropriate proportion of increasing costs. If we didn't have them, ratepayers would have to pay for all the increases through rates whether they use the particular service or facility or not. That would mean higher rates for everyone.

We aim for small increases each year or so - rather than bigger increases every few years - to minimise the impact on residents.

Proposed increases this year affect a range of areas, including sportsfields (and artificial pitches) and marinas and also for burials and cremations, public health licences and services, urban planning, resource consents and building and development-related services.

Some are:

A small increase in the fixed water charge for residents without water meters from $125 to $127.50 (ratepayers without a meter also pay a rate per dollar of capital value). Those with water meters will pay a slightly higher administration charge - up from $107 to $108 - and a little more per cubic metre of water used - up from $1.78 to $1.82.

Swimming pool fee increases including: adults, up 20 cents a swim from $5.30 to $5.50; children, up 10 cents from $3.20 to $3.30; under-fives, up 10 cents from $1.10 to $1.20; family pass (two adults and up to three children) up 70 cents from $13.50 to $14.20. No fee increases apply at Khandallah Pool.

A possible increase in landfill charges - up from $93.25 to $97.35 a tonne. Most domestic customers pay the minimum price for general and green waste, which won't be changing.

A 10 cent increase in the recommended retail price for rubbish bags - up from $1.96 to $2.06. The increases in landfill fees and rubbish bags will offset the increased cost of kerbside recycling. These costs have risen because of a collapse in global prices for recyclables.

A small increase in the entry cost at the city's recreation centres: adults, up from $3 to $3.20; children, up from $1.50 to $1.60.

Increases in dog registration fees including: dogs that haven't been neutered or spayed, up from $145 to $152 a year; neutered / spayed dogs, up from $105 to $110; dogs owned by people who have been granted responsible dog-owner status, up from $50 to $52.50 a year.

These price increases are proposed in the Draft 2010/11 Annual Plan. To have your say on these changes, visit the Public Input section of this site. The consultation is open from 9 April 2010 until 10 May 2010.