Photo: Geoff SloanChristchurch City Council adopted its draft budget on Tuesday with a 4.65 per cent rates increase - but is "promising" to work to bring ratepayers' costs down while still maintaining services. Said Mayor Lianne Dalziel: "The rate increase outlined in the draft Annual Plan approved by the council today is lower than forecast in the 2018-28 Long Term Plan (LTP) but our work is far from done. The average rates increase across all ratepayers would be 4.65 per cent, which is lower than the 5 per cent that was budgeted for in the LTP. "This draft Annual Plan is focused on meeting the standards we have set in the water safety plan, which we’re hoping will be signed off before this Annual Plan takes effect. The draft Annual Plan 2020-21 will go out for public consultation on Monday, February 24.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 11, 2020 02:34 UTC