Waitakere plans gifts as it goes out in style

Waitakere City Council is dipping into a $14.3 million surplus for a farewell present to its ratepayers - extra works on legacy projects and a lower-than-forecast rates bill.

Council finance chairman Ross Clow said yesterday the sum was due to an operating surplus and savings on capital projects which had not gone ahead in the June financial year.

Savings on capital projects amounted to about $10.6 million of the surplus.

Some of this would go towards topping up budgets to get important projects completed or bring them forward a year or two, he said.

The operating surplus would be used to whittle away at the 7.29 per cent rates rise forecast earlier in the year.

"We think we can get that down to under 4 per cent,"said Mr Clow.

Last year the council rated for a 2.9 per cent increase in costs, which meant an extra $1 a week for the average household rate.

If it settles on a 4 per cent rise next week, the city's average house, with a land value of $270,000, will pay $2045 - up from $1920 last year, or $2.40 more a week.

This includes 1.5 per cent for museum and regional amenities levies and also includes waste water.

If householders pay the whole rates bill by September 30, they will pay $2015 by avoiding the 15 per cent GST applying from October 1.

Some of the lower-than-expected costs were because of the council's transition into the new Auckland Council from November 1.

SURPLUS SURPRISE
* $2.3 million for upgrading McRae Way in New Lynn's redevelopment.
* $1.4 million on road repairs and reconstruction.
* $1 million to upgrade Corbans Estate Arts Centre.
* $350,000 to pensioner housing, so rents will not have to rise.
* $150,000 for community halls and houses.
* $130,000 refurbishment of Ambrico Studios and kiln, New Lynn.