Paula Thompson BOP Regional Councillor www.envbop.govt.nz

The BOP Regional Council will soon release its 10 year plan for your comment.

At this stage, one of the key features is a proposed $3m increase in next year's operating costs.

This is caused largely by an additional focus on nutrient management for Rotorua Lakes and the Tauranga Harbour. With all the talk of local government reform ‘in the air' it's timely to consider how much of the council and your money is spent on protecting and enhancing our environment icons. Should there be a reform of local government, it seems pretty clear that a key driver will be ensuring best management of environment.

The existence of the six BOP Rivers and Flood Management Schemes is also a timely reminder of the importance of protecting the region from flooding risk. The essential matter of protecting our regional water, air, land should never be missing from the discussion around how best to deliver local government in the BOP.

The council receives its revenue from;

• General Rates (These include a Uniform Annual General Charge which is a flat rate per property irrespective of property value and a variable charge based on the land value of the property.)
• Targeted Rates (For area specific costs such as Buses, Rotorua Lakes, Rotorua Air clean up and the Rivers and Flooding Schemes.)
• Dividends (From shareholding in Port of Tauranga Ltd-Value at 2011 $650.7m.)
• Interest Income
• Grants and subsidies (Includes government grants for Rotorua Lakes.)
• Fees and Charges (User Fees.)

For the next three years, it is proposed that there is an increase in the amount of revenue to be received from general rates (12 per cent-8.5 per cent-8.5 per cent). This is caused by a decision to increase the proportion of revenue to come from general rates as opposed to targeted rates and an increase in operating costs for which there is no other revenue source. Some of the important matters to consider are the drivers of the increased costs and the council proposal to alter the targeted rates ratios.

At this stage, the council has made its decision on targeted rates because it thinks the new targeted ratios are fairer. All of this is open to your comment.

The plan will be open for submissions from March 27 until April 27.
Please feel free to contact me, phone 027 222 2419 or email [email protected] to discuss this or any other regional council matter.