Submitters Have Their Say On Annual Plan Tomorrow

The Invercargill City Council will hear from submitters tomorrow as part of its Annual Plan (2022-2023) process, with many different concerns being raised.

A total of 132 submissions (541 received in 2021) were received including from the Invercargill Ratepayers Advocacy Group being represented by deputy Mayor Nobby Clark.

Nobby will take off his councillor/deputy Mayor hat tomorrow and instead back a submission from the group that the rates increase should not rise above 4%.

Council has indicated it wants to increase the rates by 7.78% instead of the initial predicted 4% but the advocacy group believes any additional revenue needed to balance a budget that includes recently identified expenditure should either operate an unbalanced budget, or by way of a withdrawal from reserves.

A report to council by Rhiannon Suter, Manager – Strategy and Policy Anna Brown, Corporate Analyst, said there were 111 responses to the three options for the Southland Museum rebuild, and the majority were keen on a new bigger option building (63%).

The comments highlighted a desire for a ‘striking’ building with a common theme of, ‘let’s do this right.’

The option to retain the pyramid elicited particularly passionate responses, and in total 37% selected   the first option of redeveloping the existing building.

“Overwhelmingly, there was a sense of concern about how much was being spent on the museum, and submitters urged council to consider the financial ramifications during a period of economic uncertainty.

“There was also a strong sense of pride relating to the pyramid as an Invercargill icon which should be maintained.”

A group of four people leasing cribs at Coopers Creek who have had their rental fees increased will also speak at the hearing in opposition.

Throughout the submissions, there was a consistent theme of mistrust of council spending decisions and a worry about the current economic climate. However, there was also a number of comments who voiced appreciation for the reasons why there has been a rate increase.

Council will deliberate on the annual Plan on May 17, 2022. Following Council’s resolutions, final budgeting will be completed ahead of adoption of the Annual Plan before the end of June 2022. The rates will then be struck.