Rates affordability Summary

6 comments for Rates affordability.

Emotion Chart

Summary of Resident Feedback on Rates Affordability

The Nelson City Council received several comments from residents concerning the proposed changes to the Long Term Plan, specifically focusing on the theme of "Rates Affordability." The feedback highlights a range of concerns and viewpoints that are summarized below:

  1. Support for Rate Affordability Initiatives:

  2. One resident expressed support for the council's plans, particularly endorsing the initiatives aimed at rate affordability. This indicates a positive reception to measures that would make rates more manageable for property owners.

  3. Concerns Over Economic Strain and Spending:

  4. Multiple comments reflected concerns about economic difficulties faced by households. Residents are apprehensive about the council's spending during a time when they are experiencing increased costs in other areas such as insurance, food, and energy. There is a strong sentiment that the council should focus on essential expenditures ("must haves") rather than discretionary spending ("nice to haves").

  5. One comment specifically opposed any rates increases above the rate of inflation, suggesting that the council should operate within its current financial means rather than extending its budget.

  6. Worries About Debt and Financial Management:

  7. There are significant worries about the rising debt levels and the costs associated with servicing this debt, especially with higher interest rates. The concern is that this could lead to financial strain both on the council and the ratepayers.

  8. Impact on City Maintenance and Services:

  9. A specific concern was raised about the potential capping of funding for city maintenance (Option 2), which could lead to reduced frequency or lower standards of maintenance. This is seen as potentially harmful to local businesses and the overall attractiveness of the city for visitors.

Recommendations and Considerations

  • Prioritize Essential Spending: Given the concerns about economic strain on households, it is recommended that the council prioritizes essential services and projects that directly benefit the community's core needs.

  • Rate Increases: Any decision on rate increases should consider the current economic pressures on residents. Increases, if necessary, should ideally not exceed the rate of inflation to avoid additional financial burden on the ratepayers.

  • Debt Management: The council should consider strategies for managing and potentially reducing its debt levels, especially in light of concerns about the cost implications of servicing higher debt under rising interest rates.

  • Maintenance Funding: It is crucial to ensure that funding for city maintenance is sufficient to keep the city clean and well-maintained, as this directly impacts business activities and tourism.

  • Engage with Residents: Continued engagement with residents to gather more detailed feedback on specific areas of concern can help tailor the council's strategies to better meet the community's needs.

This summary and the recommendations should assist the council in making informed decisions that align with the community's preferences and financial realities.

Comment Point ID
Comment: Hello Nelson City Council, I own a property at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Atawhai. I received a circular called Our Nelson and inviting recipients to comment on the council’s plans. There are a lot of them, so I will simply say that after perusing the document, I endorse all your suggestions, particularly rate affordability for the coming year. You’re doing a great job 163.2
Comment: Households are suffering. Until this new government redresses what the old did to destroy productivity throughout NZ, we have no spare money to give for projects that should be privately funded by the users of such.  333.10
Comment: Inner City Maintenance - We have been actively involved in the City Centre Business Forum, What If WhakatO and most recently the City Revitalisation Summit. In all of these fora an area of focus has been the cleanliness and general upkeep of the City and surrounds. We are concerned that in practice, going for Option 2, as it is described, means capping funding for maintenance at current rates, rather than increasing to reflect cost, which will result in a reduction in the frequency or standard of some maintenance. This in turn will impact negatively on businesses that operate in the city and the experience of visitors to the region.  985.14
Comment: 6. I have strong concerns about the rising debt levels Council is planning with the higher interest rates for servicing this debt. Many rate payers are struggling with rising insurance, food and energy costs etc. Now is a time when we should be paying down debt and restricting spending to ‘must haves’ and not ‘nice to haves’. 1426.6
Comment: 6. I have strong concerns about the rising debt levels Council is planning with the higher interest rates for servicing this debt. Many rate payers are struggling with rising insurance, food and energy costs etc. Now is a time when we should be paying down debt and restricting spending to ‘must haves’ and not ‘nice to haves’. 1428.7
Comment: NO to rates increases higher than inflation. The NCC ought to live within their means. 1481.4