Environment Southland ratepayers face a 4.9 per cent rates hike which ''may not align with community expectations'', a councillor says. The overall rates increase was set at 4.9 per cent - lower than the 5.9 per cent forecast in the long-term plan - and Environment Southland was forecasting a deficit of $2.7 million. He said the rates rise may not align with community expectations, but what set Environment Southland apart was it needed reserves intact for the unknowns, such as the flooding in February. Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said councillors were conscious that money was short in the post covid world, but they also had to balance that by doing the job Environment Southland was asked to do. An Environment Southland press release on Tuesday says Covid-19 was unheard of when it began planning its work programmes and budgets more than six months ago.

Source: Stuff June 30, 2020 01:07 UTC