This year, the Council decided to roll the rate rise into the Annual Plan, with Mayor Janet Holborow saying it wouldn’t be a good use of ratepayers’ money to consult on the increase (but apparently there’s still money for non core-activities, fringe donations and partnerships—just saying).

On the 29th May, a member of Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti presented to Council before the vote, making it clear: this isn’t just “bad luck” or inflation—it’s a choice. When faced with even bigger increases, the council found ways to cut costs and staff. So why not do more to keep rates down?

Even worse, there are mistakes in the council’s numbers—like tables that don’t add up and a $9 million error in capital spending. If they can’t get the basics right, how can we trust their financial planning? Lucky we are doing the math for them.

The only councillor that voted against adopting the Annual Plan, solely on the basis that it incorporated the 6.9% rates increase, was Cr Glen Cooper.

Cr Halliday abstained from voting on the specific Agenda item of “setting the rates, due dates and penalties”.

The Mayor and all other Councillors voted to accept the Annual Plan and therefore accept the rates increase.

To read more about what we had to say at Council click here