Rates affordability Debate
Community Wellbeing - Cost of Living
Option 1
Residents supporting Option 1 emphasize the importance of maintaining high service standards despite the potential for higher rates, arguing that reduced investment now could lead to greater costs and reduced quality of life in the future. They advocate for the continuation of essential services like the Eco Design Advisor, which helps households manage energy and water costs, thereby mitigating financial hardship during cost-of-living crises. Additionally, some suggest exploring alternative revenue sources, such as targeting wealthier individuals or allowing innovative housing solutions like tiny houses on rural land, to alleviate the financial burden on average ratepayers.
Table of comments:
| Point No | Comment |
|---|---|
| 175.1 | There is no pride in having one of the lower rates increases in NZ- it just means that Council has less opportunity to provide services. Given that during COVID, Nelson had a zero rate increase, I believe that NCC is behind the ball in terms of its rates take, given the services it needs to deliver its community. |
| 181.1 | Investing in the growth and development of Nelson is important. People will complain about rates no matter what they are. Just increase them and take it on the chin, people will deal with it. If they can afford a house in Nelson, they can afford a rates increase. |
| 371.1 | also more user pays |
| 785.1 | Community Compost is actively work to divert food and garden waste from landfills to sequester carbon through healthy soils. In addition, they create living compost to feed into regenerative food systems that promote local and regenerative food production, cultivate community resilience and food security, and support people's physical and mental well-being. Community Compost and Compost Club have been collecting food waste from homes and businesses for the past seven years, and they don't want to stop just because of the newly elected official's legislation changes. I believe that fewer service cuts, like compost, is the best decision for the council to make. Composting will also not increase rates for households and individuals so this is just not true. Please save composting. |
| 948.1 | As mentioned above it is presumed that the Eco Design Advisor service is proposed as a service cut under Option 2 to maintain rates affordability. We agree that affordability is a key issue and critical to get right to ensure households in Nelson City are not pushed into financial hardship especially during a cost-of-living crisis. Financial hardship is often linked with a sacrifice of winter heating resulting in unhealthy indoor environments which can lead to poor health outcomes (particularly respiratory illness).Removing the FREE Eco Design Advisor service removes a key support function for households to understand and reduce their energy consumption and alleviate household energy costs. Most Eco Design Advisors also provide advice to support households to reduce their water consumption and in turn reduce water costs. Eco Design Advisors can be empowered with meter data to support their visits and target water efficiency advice where water consumption flags exist.By removing this service, the Council removes a key support function for households to reduce their operational costs exacerbating affordability.Eco Design Advice provided for new build projects supports residents and developers to achieve more energy efficient housing which is resilient to a changing climate. Improved energy efficiency outcomes result in less energy and emissions over the life of the asset. This has the potential to mitigate affordability issues for future generations. |
| 982.1 | RATES AFFORDABILITYWhile no one likes higher |
| 1100.1 | squeeze the mega wealthy if possible, lobby central government. Ratepayers are not all wealthy, however winding down society is not a solution. I'd rather we crashed at full speed than wound down - easier to keep momentum that way. |
| 1208.1 | While I acknowledge that recent financial pressures are difficult they will not be permanent and with the nature of financial cycles and Nelson being a reliable and consistent producer in many different sectors I believe that less money and effort put in now will needlessly hamper progress and quality of living in Nelson within the next 10 years. A dollar not gathered a spent now will be multitudes more expensive to catch up to later. |
| 1299.1 | Firstly, I am concerned that cutting important maintenance and infrastructure services and upgrades could lead to even higher costs in the future. We still need to spend the money now if required. I support rates increases when the money is used wisely. I also support the council to push back when the government makes changes to legislation that create unrealistic and inefficient use of finances.I value access to our reserves and parks and would like to see the current services retained. Nelson has a beautiful natural landscape. In relation to road services, I support the most efficient use of funds including reducing frequency of road marking and resealing projects which cause no harm and do not need to be done. For example, Seaton Street, where I live was resealed last year even though there was nothing wrong with it. |
| 1461.1 | Allow tiny houses as rentals on rural land. |
| 1491.1 | I support Option 01 (fewer service cuts and higher rates increases). Although the idea |