Queenstown Lakes property owners will pay $34 to $125 more in rates if the district’s proposed annual plan is approved on Thursday. Council finance manager Stewart Burns said it set itself a revised target of 1.8% — in line with inflation — to ease the impact of rates on a community suffering financially. However, Lakes District Accommodation Sector group spokesman Nik Kiddle, also an apartment operator, said it was "very disappointing" there was any rates increase at all. Mountain Scene last month reported the group, of which there are about 70 members, wanted a rates freeze and threatened a rates revolt if an inflation-adjusted rise went ahead. Mr Burns said the council was proposing a $4.7 million reduction by cutting 20 proposed or vacant full-time equivalent roles, and freezing salaries.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 22, 2020 15:33 UTC