Spending Programme For 2011-12

Submissions from the public convinced councillors to reinstate some of the spending cuts previously outlined for the Council’s budget to support the 2011-2012 Annual Plan.

Major infrastructure projects will again account for the great majority of Council’s spending programme. Sewerage works for Blenheim and Picton will be the single biggest cost with roading coming a close second.

It will be the final year in which Blenheim residents will pay for their water treatment upgrade; almost $1m has to be set aside for that.

Almost $3M will be spent over two years on Picton’s Endeavour Park Pavilion, while parks and reserves across the district will again cost more than $2M to maintain to current standards.

The impact of the Christchurch earthquake on insurance premiums paid by Council has wiped away $1M. Nevertheless, the overall increase in revenue Council will take in rates from across the district has risen by just 3.19%, comparing very favourably with other regions. The rates for individual properties will be affected to a greater or lesser extent, depending on location. A benchmark property in Blenheim’s urban area is likely to face a 6% increase.

Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman says the submissions process generated the largest public response he’d seen in his term on the council.

“The weight of submissions encouraged councillors to change their minds on a few issues but overall we stuck pretty closely to the draft budget,” he said.