Taupō District Council adopts its Annual Plan
Taupō District Council has today adopted its Annual Plan for the 2026/27 year.
The Annual Plan process provides Council the ability to both set the rates and the fees and charges for the following year.
In its Long-term Plan 2024-34, Council forecast an average 6.7 percent rates increase for the financial year beginning 1 July 2027. Despite substantial increases to operating costs driven mainly by the cost of waters services and depreciation, $1.7 million in savings was found to bring the final rates increase down by 0.1 percent. Waters costs make up nearly half (2.9 percent) of the final 6.6 percent average rates increase.
To get to this figure, a number of projects that were expected to be delivered in the financial year from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 have been deferred. These include: widening the Great Lake Pathway between Rainbow Point and the southern end of Secombe Park ($4.2 million), a Taupō wastewater solids filtrate treatment project ($3.24 million) some erosion control work ($500,000), community heritage space development at Taupō Library ($150,000) and removeable bollards at Roberts St, Taupō ($168,000).
Taupō District Mayor John Funnell says that while looking for areas where costs could be cut, councillors were mindful that community feedback on the Long-term Plan 2024 to 2034 was that council should focus on delivering essentials (roads, water, wastewater and rubbish) while also looking after the district’s parks and reserves, customer services, venues, sportsgrounds and libraries.
Because of that, the key commitments in the Long-term Plan that focus on essential services, such as water treatment plant upgrades, will still be delivered under this Annual Plan.
“We’re hearing loud and clear from the community that affordability is front of mind and we know that 6.6 percent is still higher than people would like,” Mr Funnell said. “However the unpalatable truth is that it can’t be brought down further without deferring or cancelling essential work that we’re committed to delivering.”
Major projects planned for the upcoming financial year include a new Hatepe water treatment plant, an upgrade to the Centennial Drive water treatment plant, and a transfer station upgrade at the Broadlands Rd Resource Recovery Centre. This continues council’s focus on the basics.
As well as the rates increase, some fees and charges for council services have risen by an average of 3.5 percent. Almost all are still subsidised by general rates to greater or lesser degrees. The updated fees and charges take effect from 1 July.
The council will shortly begin preparing its next Long-term Plan, which will cover the years 2027 to 2037 and is expecting to do this in the context of rates caps which have been signalled by Central Government. As part of the consultation with the community for that plan, the council will be asking people which council service cuts they will accept, as lower levels of service will be unavoidable.
For people who need assistance to pay their rates, Department of Internal Affairs administers a rates rebate scheme which was extended to more SuperGold cardholders in last year’s Budget. You can find information about the scheme here: www.govt.nz/browse/housing-and-property/getting-help-with-housing/getting-a-rates-rebate/.
