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RATESBack in 2001, rates required bycouncil were $31.9m. Ten yearslater and that figure had doubled to$63.77m. Future rating and fundingrequirements have been set at a 71%increase over the next decade, at$109.12m, according to the council’sLong Term Plan 2012-22.This year’s rate increase of 4.8%,may well be one of the lowest rate14%12%10%8%6%4%2%0%Queenstown Lakes DCRotorua DCNapier CCInvercargill CCNelson DCMarlborough DCMasterton DCrises in the past decade (back in2008 it was 14.5% and in 2009 itwas 9.1%, while in 2010, the lastelection year, it was down to 5%),but it was also one of the highest inthe country, ranked at 51 out of 64,points out council candidate, LenHouwers.“Just about all of the councilsimproved on their forecast made intheir LTPs. Plus the NPDC rates werekept low by borrowing from the PIFand Reserves to pay back later.”Local Authority 2013/14 Rate IncreasesFar North DCWellington CCOtorohanga DCWhangarei DCWaipa DCHauraki DCStratford DCKawerau DCTararua DCSouth Waikato DCCentral Hawkes Bay DCHamilton CCClutha DCSouth Taranaki DCSouth Wairarapa DCSouthland DCTaupo DCTimaru DCNew Plymouth DCWanganui DCKapiti Coast DCSelwyn DCAshburton DCHorowhenua DCKaipara DCCOUNCIL DEBTExternal debt as per the 2013/14annual plan is $136 Million.The biggest increases occurredfrom 2000 – 2010, when council debtgrew from $12m to $119.9m.When LIVE asked former mayor(2001-2010), Peter Tennent why theNPDC debt grew by over $100 millionduring his mayoralty, he stated theincrease in debt level was to fundinfrastructure.When NPDC Chief Executive,Barbara McKerrow, was asked thisquestion and also why we neededto spend so much on capitalinvestment during 2000-2010, whenwe apparently weren’t spending andborrowing as much prior, or since,she suggested, “It is a question youcould or should put to Peter Tennentwho was the Mayor through thatperiod of time.“It is really one for the decisionmakers and not for the staff,” shestated. Mrs McKerrow, who has beenin the Chief Executive’s role sinceRodger Kerr-Newell left in 2008, didmake some observations on keydrivers through that period though.“This decade saw the advent oflegislative long term planning.NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONSVOTE FOR CHANGE!ALLUMBARKERHOUWERSKNOWLESO’SULLIVANwww.changeforgood.co.nzAuthorised by Cam Murray, 50 Truby King St, New Plymouth12 I LIVE MAGAZINE I SPRING 2013