Council seeks feedback on crucial rates remission proposal

Taupō District Council has announced a one-month special consultation period to get the public’s view on a proposed new three-year rate Transitional Remissions policy – a move which will allow Council to remit rates for property owners most affected by the move to capital value general rates.

This is a follow on from adopting the Long Term Plan 2012-22 which moves the community from a land value to a capital value general rating system. The proposed Transitional Remissions policy is intended to provide some relief to ratepayers.

Under the proposed policy, people will not have to apply to have rates remitted – this will be automatically calculated for qualifying ratepayers. Implementing the Remissions policy will require Council to amend the current Rates Remission and Postponement Policy – and this requires public consultation.

Deputy Mayor Mike Downard says the full rates take will remain the same, so not all ratepayers will get remissions: “The Transitional Remissions Policy needs to be as fair and equitable as possible, so we want all ratepayers to have their voices heard before any final decisions are made.”

Consultation opened yesterday, and closes on 26 July. A hearing will be held on 30 July to discuss submissions and hear from submitters. Mike Downard says Council will only consider submissions which address the Remissions policy: “Debate has been robust throughout the whole process and Council has made its decisions thoughtfully. It is important for people to realise that only submissions on the Transitional Remissions policy will be considered as within scope of the consultation.”

To assist residents to fully understand the proposed policy, Council has published an explanation of its proposal, including remission thresholds and remissions caps for nine property types. View the information at www.taupo.govt.nz. The online rates calculator was also updated to reflect transition policy on rates.