Explaining the rates increases
If you are a homeowner, you should have received your first rates invoice by email or post by now. We know many of you will be surprised to see the increases.
Why have your rates gone up?
Like everyone else, we are dealing with high inflation, rising interest rates, and higher costs for everyday things like fuel, electricity, and insurance. Since 2020, our insurance costs alone have gone up by 30% and we’re looking at another big rise this year.
All these extra costs make it harder for us to look after all of the things that we normally do like our water treatment plants, parks and reserves and community facilities.
How come your rates have gone up by more than the average?
The average rates increase was 9.1% in the Taupō District. This is the rates increase that the average property will pay. But if you’re house is a bit flasher than the average, your rates will be more than this. Every three years we get an outside company to do a general revaluation of all properties in the district. We use these valuations to divide up the rates pie fairly.
What are your rates paying for?
- 367km of footpaths
- 3168 street light poles
- 57 playgrounds
- 3 libraries
- 99,059m2 of parking (about 14 rugby fields)
- 3 swimming pools
- 6 sportsgrounds
- 57 public toilets
- 43km of cycleways and shared paths
- 412 street litter/recycling bins
- 781km drinking water pipes
- 628kms of wastewater pipes
- 806km of roads (sealed and unsealed)
Have your rates gone up to pay for the Taupō Town Centre Transformation and Te Ātea?
No, that’s been paid for already. We were very lucky to be awarded a $20.6 million grant from the government, which we topped up with $4.4 million last year. The project resulted in 92 full-time jobs for locals which was pretty awesome too.
More info on that project here
Want to know more?
Our amazing customer service team are here to help. You can contact them on info@taupo.govt.nz, phone 07 376 0899 or by sending a message to our Facebook page.
Please remember to be kind. They are all dealing with the same rates increases, tightening purse strings winter bugs and changeable weather that ruins hairdos and best shoes like you are.
