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Other key documents we invite your feedback on

These documents are being reviewed alongside the development of the Long-term Plan.

Budgets have been developed according to these draft policies. If changes are made to these policies as part of the consultation process, this may result in changes to the Long-term Plan budgets.

Key changes proposed

See the sections below for further information about the key changes proposed to our draft policies and fees and charges schedule.

The Revenue and Financing Policy sets out the Council’s funding approach and describes how each of the Council’s activities will be funded, including the rationale for the use of each funding method.

The key changes relate to:

  • Where we have looked at how the allocation of costs is balanced between the person benefiting from the service and the ratepayer. These are reflected in the fees and charges section below.
  • An alignment of electricity generators and utility assets and networks with other industrial/commercial ratepayers.
Draft Revenue and Financing Policy (PDF, 726KB)

Rates differential – we know that we need to change some of our funding

As part of this Long-term Plan, Council has considered whether there are ways to improve inequities within the rating system. One approach was a review of rates differentials. The review focused on the industrial and commercial differential, in particular electricity generation and utility assets and networks as these had not been changed since 2012/13.

We propose to align electricity generation and utility assets and networks with other commercial/industrial activities. Council wants to ensure that all industrial/commercial ratepayers are treated equally when assessing rates, more so during these uncertain economic times.

Changing the differential will mean that electricity generators will contribute a higher proportion to the rates which will reduce the burden on other ratepayers, particularly those in urban areas. The energy sector benefits from being in our district and we want them to contribute a fair amount to the community.

Water meters?

You may see water meters are in our plan. We are continuing to install water meters at new properties and for high water users and commercial users. At present we use water meters to track water leaks, which are more common than people think.

For the next few years, there is no intention to charge for water use for normal residential properties.

At some point in the next decade as the district continues to grow, we might need to consider installing water meters on existing residential properties to ensure there is enough water for everyone. We would not charge for residential water until we have talked to the community. In the meantime, water meters will be used to track leaks and provide accurate estimates of demand, which helps with our water planning such as assessing whether we need to expand our water treatment plants.

Fees and charges ensure that those who use Council services contribute towards the costs of providing those services and facilities.

This helps reduce that cost burden falling entirely on the wider community through rates (including the people who don’t use these services). For instance, a person extending their home requires a building consent but benefits from the increased value of that home. It’s only fair that they should bear most of the cost of paying for the building consent.

Some of the key proposed changes include increases to fees for:

  • Building and resource consenting
  • Alcohol and health licensing
  • Taupō and Tūrangi pools, and other council facilities
  • Cemeteries
  • Landfill, transfer station fees, and kerbside rubbish stickers / bags

We are also proposing an increase in rents at our housing for the elderly units, with weekly rents going from $135 to $170 per week for a single unit in Taupō or Tūrangi, and from $105 to $130 per week in Mangakino. The housing stock is ageing and needs work to keep it warm, safe and suitable for the needs of the tenants. These rents are expected to cover around 35 percent of the costs of providing this housing.

Fees and Charges

Go to the Fees and Charges page to learn more about the proposed changes.

Find out more

The underlying principle of development contributions is that developers should meet the costs of projects associated with growth.

The Development Contributions Policy enables monetary or land contributions to be charged to developers when they gain resource consent, building consent or are granted a service connection. Council has reviewed its policy, and revised its growth projects, resulting in corresponding changes to development contribution rates for:

  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Transport
  • Reserves

Development Contributions Policy

Go to the Development Contributions Policy page to learn more about the proposed changes.

Find out more

These policies outline the circumstances in which the Council may remit or postpone rates.

Remission of rates involves reducing the amount owing or waiving the collection of rates altogether, while postponement of rates means payment can be delayed for a certain period of time, but not waived. The review of the policy has resulted in two proposed changes:

  • Reducing the toilet pan charges for community groups, marae and churches.
  • Simplifying the rate remission available on Māori freehold land that is being developed.
Draft Rating Remission and Postponement Policies (PDF, 884KB)

The purpose of the policy is to set out the approved policies and procedures in respect of all treasury activity to be undertaken by Council and includes investment and liabilities.

These policies and procedures will enable treasury risks to be managed. The review of the policy has resulted in several proposed changes. These are:

  • Change to Net External Debt/Total Revenue Borrowing Limit from 225 percent to 250 percent.
  • Removal of Taupō Electricity Limited fund parameters, to be governed and measured by the Statement of Investment Policies and Objectives.
  • Change to a simpler, easier to manage fixed rate hedging percentages.
  • Removal of the control limits for financial market investments as the limits contradict the requirement to match investments with cashflows.
  • Updated Authorised Investment Parameters.
  • Updated performance measures.
  • Updated roles, responsibilities and delegations.
Draft Treasury Management Policy (PDF, 787KB)

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