KEY POINTS:
Waitakere city councillors say the 6.95 per cent average rates rise they approved yesterday is a genuine picture of council costs, rather than one distorted by water sales profits.
Annual plan committee chairman Janet Clews said about half of 1 per cent of cost increases was shaved off during the past month of scrutiny and tweaking of user charges.
On top of the 6.95 per cent is a 1.36 per cent rates rise to cover the cost of bulk water and levies to support the regional museums.
The increases mean about $3 more a week for the owners of a home with a land value of $270,000.
Ratepayers, however, critically compare Waitakere's rise with that of Auckland City.
Mrs Clews' response: "The rise we have worked through compares more than favourably with that of Auckland City Council's 5.1 per cent."
"If they had not accepted 'charitable payments' from their Metrowater, Auckland City Council would have needed an 11.1 per cent rates rise."
Mrs Clews said Waitakere people had not wanted their council to set up a water retailer as a local authority trading enterprise, as Auckland and Manukau cities had done.
"Our council has kept control of our water, and we are totally transparent about where our rating comes from."
Waitakere's increased water costs will be covered through a flat charge of $1.53 a cubic metre for water used - up from $1.48.
The fixed annual charge for urban wastewater is $405 ($373) per household and a general rates portion is added to this charge, levied according to a property's land value.
Mrs Clews said Waitakere could not move to a fairer, full user pays system until legislation changes to allow a volume-based charge for wastewater. Auckland City could do it because its separate company, Metrowater, was not subject to the legislation.
Mrs Clews said the committee examined increases in user charges, inflationary pressures and deferral of work programmes.
As well as the general rates levied on land value, the uniform annual general charge for each property is $690, up from $628.
Mrs Clews said the issue which brought most public reaction was a proposal to replace the kerbside inorganic refuse collection.
A new system, which provides a household refuse collection service from within the property boundary, starts in February.
Mayor Bob Harvey said the 2008-09 budget had no luxuries.
"It's modest to a point which, we think, is what's happening out there. The council must be mindful of what the community can afford."
