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Rates bills in the Hurunui district will rise an average of 7.49% this financial year.
Reducing debt and ‘‘disciplined spending’’ are a key focus for Hurunui’s councillors.
The Hurunui District Council adopted its 2023-24 annual plan on Tuesday, confirming an average rates rise of 7.49%.
But councillors called on council staff to place a focus on debt reduction and looking for more efficiencies in spending as it looked ahead to next year’s 2024-34 Long Term Plan.
Chief executive Hamish Dobbie said reducing debt remained a big focus for staff.
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“This budget was based on sticking to the plan. If we were to take inflation into account it (the rates rise) would be even more.
“But we are still delivering the same level of service. We have found some efficiencies and some gains, but it is going to be tight.
“It is a budget we can deliver and hopefully we can make it stick.”
The average rates rise of 7.49% was higher than the 4.99% forecast in the 2021-31 Long Term Plan.
Council staff were able to keep the rates rise down by reducing the council reserves budget and increasing the dividend paid by Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa.
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