Your City Your Say

Every year Christchurch City Council, like all local authorities, is required to show residents a proposed budget for the year outlining how rates and user charges are being set and spent.

This annual plan is published and you are able to have your say on what we are doing for you.

Christchurch City Council provides a wide range of services. These include parks, libraries, sewerage and rubbish disposal, recycling, roads, events and festivals, economic development, water and resource consent services. These services cost the average residential ratepayer $16.38 per week.

This is excellent value compared to household services and costs such as telecommunications, insurance or personal entertainment.

This year’s Christchurch City Council draft plan proposes an over-all average rate increase of 2.38 per cent spread over the residential, rural and commercial ratepayers and this guide and mail response form allows you to have your say.

The closing date for submissions is Monday, 29 May 2000.

Efficiency Savings $2.6m

Efficiency gains in this year’s Annual Plan are to save ratepayers and residents $2.6m.

Savings include: Car parking, $150,000, road markings $100,000, staff savings $312,881, sewer repair savings $75,000, ACC $576,873, library services $445,000 and maintenance contract changes $448,5000.

The annual plan by definition…

Annual adj. – happening once a year.

Plan n. – a method or way of proceeding, thought out in advance.

The draft annual plan 2000 is Christchurch City Council’s budget for the financial year from 1 July 2000.

Now is the time to read it and have your say. The next few pages summarise the plan and explain the process of adopting it, however it is wise to consult the document itself.

It is available from libraries and services centres and by ringing 371-1888.

You will have until 29 May to comment in writing (use one of the forms available or your own paper).

You can speak to your submission in person at a City Council hearing, on 16 June and on 19 June to 21 June (ask for a hearing when you send in your written submission prior to 29 May).

You may wish to comment on something specific, such as money ear-marked to upgrade your street.

You may wish to comment on something more general, such as the Council’s vision for the City.

You may have other ideas entirely about how the Council’s income should be spent – the Council would like to hear them.

The plan will be finalised on 6 July.

The average weekly rates for a Christchurch residential ratepayer are $16.38 a week. These pay for…

• Parks, sports grounds and nature reserves
• An efficient network of roads
• Weekly refuse collection and recycling
• Wastewater treatment
• Free events and festivals
• Recreational and economic activities to ensure Christchurch remains a good place to live work and play
• One of the best water supplies in the country.

Do you think this is good value for money?

Think about other things $16.38 can buy:

• Three car washes at a service station
• A plant and a pair of gardening gloves
• A bottle of milk, packet of cereal, loaf of bread, butter, baked beans, tomatoes, peppers, a packet of biscuits and a lucky dip Lotto ticket
• Eight cups of coffee at a café

The average residential property value in Christchurch is $163,000.

Proposed City Council rates payable on a property of this value in 2000-01 are $854. Therefore the weekly average level for City Council services to residents is $16.38.

(Note: This calculation includes the uniform annual general charge but does not include Canterbury Regional Council rates.)