Matt Cowley Tauranga City Councillor

Delivering good projects without increasing Council's debt. Delivering vibrancy through events without increasing budgets.

These were our collective priorities when we publicly released the details of our first draft budget on Monday. Please keep them in mind when you read the juicy media headlines during the next few weeks.

The challenge that I (and some other councillors) were given during the election was to build the city's vibrancy while taking control of the city's finances.

To progress the city forward, we've limbered up the council's budgets by reviewing our services. Council provides excellent services across many activities that people may either take for granted or not notice.

For example, I'm a lifeguard at Papamoa Beach, but I can see the benefit of limiting beach grooming to the Mount's main beach only and diverting remaining funding to boosting city-wide events.

Other services have faced changes in different ways. We're proposing the animal control activity is 90 per cent funded by user fees, which means a $6 increase in dog registration fees.

The Mount Hot Pools require work to maintain a consistent water temperature. We're increasing entrance fees to help recover a $600,000 loan for a new bore.

We've established a new $50,000 community fund where we match your contribution dollar for dollar to complete projects you choose for your neighbourhood.

I'll discuss other service changes in future columns. I commend the professional and impartial advice given by staff to inform the implications of our decisions. It wasn't an easy process and I emphasise these draft budget decisions were made by councillors.

The debate continues over the $100 levy (an average per property) for fixing stormwater. The levy is in addition to the two per cent general rate increase.

Community Development Committee

The Community Development Committee held its first ever meeting on Monday. All elected members attend this committee. It shows our priority of engaging the public on local issues. It's tasked with having a helicopter view of emerging issues in the community.

We intend to hold these meetings in the suburbs when there are key issues. We welcome your attendance and feel free to speak to us if you wish.

I commend the leadership of Mayor Crosby in establishing the committee and councillors Steve Morris and Gail McIntosh for getting it going.

One public speaker summed it up as we're not entering into different business, we're doing the same business differently.

Feel free to email me your thoughts (matt.cowley@tauranga.govt.nz), call/text me on 027 6989 548, and follow me at www.facebook.com/a.younger.voice.