Cr Bill Faulkner Faulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz

It seems you just can't win where Council's finances are concerned. Last year's financials ended in a $3.7million surplus – due in main part to interest rate related benefits. Both loans and investments.

$500,000 goes to debt reduction and the balance comes off this year's rating revenue requirement. As elected members sat down to deliberate on this year's annual plan/rate revenue requirement we were happily anticipating a six per cent increase.
But we were also told this meant that by applying the $3.2million this year, next year we face a nine per cent rate revenue increase per the 10 year plan.

Well that will just have to be reduced like we did this year – by active reductions in what Council is doing and how it's doing it, including on-going expert financial management. But we have to factor into the 2014-15 budget millions of dollars in extra flood protection work not contemplated in the 10 year plan. Into deliberations: the old Mount Cosmopolitan Club, which was the subject of a submission by Rob Paterson on behalf of the ‘Modern Museum' group, will be invited to make a proposal to turn the empty building into a modern museum. A submission to fund $20,000 for Papakainga Project Management was declined.

The big decision
The biggie for the first day was Council deciding with a 7-4 vote to delay the proposed Greerton Library for a year while the financial consequences of the flooding protection become known. The Council library working group, who have put a lot of effort in no doubt, were really septic at this. Working group chairman Larry Baldock churlishly then moved Council sell the adjoining properties and apply the proceeds to flood protection. These properties were purchased years ago expressly to provide for Greerton Village green and library development. While Larry was tossing his toys out of the cot no one else did and this initiative failed for want of a seconder. What is proposed is a delay in view of the serious flooding matters that occurred recently. Working group member Tony Christiansen thought now was the best time to do the new library because we had the funding. That's partly true - $1.8million in development contributions, $200,000 in renewals financing and borrowing of $1.291million. That's the bit that's in contention. If we do sell the adjoining properties it's paramount ratepayers get top dollar and the sale has to be on Council's terms, not influenced by timing, loans and market fluctuations. Cricket will only get $35,000 for a second internationally compliant wicket if the bid for second tier world cup games is successful. A majority thought that these games would be of great benefit to Tauranga. Baycourt will get a return to active management to comply with Council's usage policy of 1/3 not for profit, 1/3 youth and 1/3 commercial. An investigation will investigate the pros and cons of shifting it to the CCO, Bay Leisure and Bay Events Ltd. A function room will be built adjacent to the crematorium. I successfully added a resolution making approval conditional upon Council never operating it as a cafe. The last one, Café 100, under Baycourt, went belly-up costing ratepayers plenty. No more ratepayer funded bail outs.

Funding Gate Pa commemorations will be subject to application to the Event Funding round. This fund has $200,000 available and I mentioned this amount would be almost gobbled up by this one event. Larry said it should be increased to $400,000 and Mayor Stuart Crosby said that they may not get the full amount. A report outlining a plan to commemorate World War I did not make clear the full story. The plan is to have two 20foot containers adapted to display World War I paraphernalia presently held in storage at the museum storage warehouse at the Mount. A lottery grant of $118,000 is available. Eventually it was made clear that ratepayers would be in for $5000 a year for seven years. Next year is 100 years since the 'war to end all wars” as it was heralded at the time. The human race hasn't learned the lesson in the past century has it? Might even make a bad Tui ad.

On day two elected members considered internal submissions from staff – largely on matters that have arisen since the draft budget was floated in March. We bowled out some items that had been added in as contingency items like $150,000 extra for a cleaning contract that staff anticipated might increase. We decided to wait for the outcome of the tender process. $45,000 for costs associated with Government's decision to place sale of liquor responsibility with Councils was removed from a ratepayer liability. Costs must be user pays and we will seek to have Local Government NZ involved so there will be one set of costs instead of about 70 for each of the local councils. Another example of Government divesting responsibility and costs onto councils.

New Year's Eve
An extra $50,000 for the New Year's Eve party at the Mount was removed. Ratepayers fund the party, as it's cheaper than the riots of yesteryear and is a summer visitor attraction. $160,000 went in to gas heat the Mount Hot Saltwater pools. This is thought to be a more viable option than the hot water bore which is unreliable and unable to provide a consistent temperature. The bore is hot fresh water which runs through a heat exchanger, heating salt water pumped from the harbour and then gets returned to the harbour.

All afternoon on stormwater issues – this year's major item and it's a far bigger problem than most people imagine. No decisions as the column went to press but you can follow up on SunLive. We heard first-hand heart breaking submissions from affected residents. Stormwater mixed with sewerage flowing through homes and sections, more than once in many cases, produces all sorts of issues – health, safety (water flowing so deep and fast), inability to insure, insecurity (fear every time it rains), to list a few.

Earlier we had cut out $600,000 which Council had budgeted for principle repayments on land purchased at Te Tumu. This will help service extra stormwater loans but more money is needed. Meanwhile staff will get on with computer modelling which is unbelievably expensive, but will ensure that the fixes will be effective. There will be no quick fixes nor any guarantee that the remedies will work for every downpour. Daily media attendance has again been intermittent and selective. Unfortunately that means that only part of the process (selected) is conveyed to you in ratepayer land. SunLive is your best bet in my view.

This week's mindbender from William Faulkner – true! (Not me). A writer needs three things; experience, observation and imagination, any two of which, at times any one of which, can supply the lack of others.