Horizons Regional Council Draft Long Term Plan 2024 - 2034

Submitting on the Long-term Plans of district and regional councils forms an important part of advocating for farmers – it is an opportunity to influence local rating policies and contain and reduce rating impacts on farmland.

Property value rates can be among the highest overheads for a farm business. Farmers pay more for council services than other residents. 

The Federation advocates for farmers at both national and local levels to bring equity to this situation. We seek reform of local government funding through legislative change and submit and advocate to councils locally for better rating systems.

Summary:

• Council should reduce expenditure to avoid the need for rates increases above the rate of inflation (4.7% in January 2024).
• Council should maintain a maximum funding contribution of 30% from a UAGC for every type of Council activity has a general region-wide benefit (such as administrative support for Councillors running official meetings).
• Council should either undertake a Special Consultative Procedure for changes to funding river drainage schemes or keep the targeted rates share at the same level as previous and not load more rates increases onto farmers.
• Council should not increase funding levels of service for freshwater activity because the Council needs to make it existing tools work instead of spending more money on unproven new tools.
• Council should not adopt any general rates increases for funding public transport. There is no benefit from such activity in rural areas. 
• Council should not fund water meter activity from general rate increases. All water users should be required to measure and monitor water use where they use it. This should not be a cost on general rates.