16 April 2021
A focus on ensuring the cost of delivering council activities is fully recovered is behind the increase in some fees and charges, proposed as part of the current consultation on Masterton District Council’s draft Long-Term Plan.
Costs have increased due to adjustments for inflation, to respond to changes set by central government, and to cover borrowing costs for capital projects associated with the services.
The Council’s revenue and financing policy sets out how it funds expenditure for each service by determining the proportion of funding that will come from rates, and the proportion that will come from user fees and charges.
The proposed fees and charges are set out here.
Among the proposed changes are:
Animal Services (includes dog registrations and impounding fees)
The proposed increases to fees associated with the animal services range from 4-26 per cent, with dog registration fees increasing on average 26 per cent. The increases reflect:
- inflation adjustments
- borrowing costs for the replacement of the animal shelter
- the level of work involved with impounded animals
- the inflationary adjustments that were not passed on last year when the Council chose not to increase dog registration fees as part of our COVID-19 response.
Building
As part of proposed changes, some building consent fees, particularly for residential new dwellings, have been realigned to reflect the type of building work.
Fees for the multi-unit and multi-storey apartments have been changed to reflect the level of processing and the number of inspections.
The initial swimming pool inspection fee of $36 has been removed as it was not covering the cost of the building compliance officers’ time. The low fee had been used as an incentive in the past but as the three-yearly inspection is a legislative requirement, the Council considers that all pool owners should pay the cost of this service and it should not be subsidised by the ratepayer. The three- yearly pool inspection fee is proposed to be set at $160.
Transfer Station
There are small increases proposed for fees relating to our transfer station facilities because the costs of Council disposing of waste to landfill are increasing. If fees were not increased, costs of disposing of residential and commercial waste would have to be subsidised with rates. The Council will also be passing on the increase in the Government’s waste levy, which increases from $10 a tonne to $20 a tonne on 1 July.
Housing for seniors
Rental fees are proposed to increase $2 per week to cover inflation adjustments for the Council’s senior housing stock at Panama Village, Laurent Place, Bodmin Flats, and Truro Flats.
Environmental Health and Licensing
The proposed increases to food premise verification fees better reflect the cost of delivering the service cover inflation adjustments.
No changes are proposed for library fees, parking fees, infrastructure contributions, or concession fees.
Submissions on the proposed fees and charges, and the draft Long-Term Plan, and significance and engagement policy, can be made online here. Hard copies of all documents are available at the Council’s office at 161 Queen Street.
Submissions close at 4pm on 3 May.