Catherine Stewart Tauranga City Councillor

Taurang City Council has adopted the 2016/2017 Annual Plan setting average rates increase at 2.2 per cent for next year.

This council has experienced the lowest interest rates on borrowings that I can ever recall. Growth has rocketed. Development contributions revenue is expected to be $26.1 million, which is $9.5m above budget.

Staffing numbers have increased dramatically ovduringer the last three years. While some of this can be attributed to growth in building services there are discretionary areas where I believe savings could be made. Reviewing a $1.5m per annum community budget and reviewing the city ‘transformation' budget would be a good starting point.

The Community Outcomes adopted on August 18, 2014, with only four elected members in support, three against, one abstention and three absent needs to be revisited because I believe this also drives cost throughout the organisation.

'A talented and innovative city full of opportunity. A city with heart and soul. A city of great spaces, places and environments.”

The key decisions made through the Annual Plan consultation and deliberations process are set out in a summary document available at www.tauranga.govt.nz/annual-plan-2016-17.

As this is my last column before the elections get underway, I would like to thank you for your feedback and support during the last three years.

I intend to stand for re-election later this year. Some of the challenges ahead include civic building options, fiscal challenges once interest rates increase and growth projects, such as the southern pipeline, coming online.