After debate and re-litigation we have a budget for our input next year

 

And so after our theatrics, the re-litigation, the Auditor General being comfortable in her opinion, and some clarifications (a few were needed) we have a master budget draft set for our analysis and feedback next year. Known as the draft 2015-2025 Long Term Plan, it sets all Auckland Council (and its Council Controlled Organisations) expenditure and revenue gathering exercises over a 10 year time frame (although updated every three years).

From Auckland Council before I pick up from some of the Main Stream Media outlets:

Governing Body – summary of decisions 

Long-term Plan 2015-2025 – consultation document

The Governing Body adopted the consultation document for the Long-term Plan 2015-2025 following a written letter and verbal report from Auditor-General Lyn Provost confirming the document provided an effective basis for public participation in the decision making process.

The Auditor-General said the document fairly represented the matters proposed for inclusion in the 10-year budget and identified and explained the main issues and choices facing Aucklanders.

Public consultation will run for seven and a half weeks from 23 January to 16 March 2015. Traditional style hearings have been replaced with Have Your Say events across the region where people can provide feedback and have their views heard by council.

The consultation document will be available online and in council service centres and libraries from the 23 January 2015. A summary of the key issues and proposals, as well as a feedback form, will be delivered to all households in late January.

Off-street parking

The Governing Body agreed to introduce changes to the way its off-street car parks are managed. The changes include a number of possible methods including the ability to put in new parking restrictions, introduce paid parking if necessary and have special pricing and management measures for events and seasonal peaks such as school holidays.

The changes are consistent with the council’s desire to promote public transport and discourage commuter trips at peak times to reduce congestion.

The recommendations were necessary interim arrangements in advance of a comprehensive region-wide parking framework which will be completed in the middle of next year.

 

Other items on the agenda included:

• Approval of the allocation of budget to the identified Maori transformational shift priorities for years four to 10 of the Long-Term Plan 2015-2025
• Adoption of the new Auckland Council Outdoor Fire Safety Bylaw 2014 to replace four legacy bylaws relating to outdoor fires

 

Click here for a copy of the Governing Body agenda.

—-ends—-

 

It is of note that due to legislation passed in August the Auditor General must cast their eye and give their opinion of a said document before it goes out to consultation. In this case it was the draft Long Term Plan.

The Auditor General said today:

….

Under a new law the council is required to produce a simpler consultation document on the LTP, to make it easier for residents to understand what’s proposed.

As part of her role as auditor of the country’s local authorites, Provost appeared before this morning’s meeting to approve the consultation document.

She particularly highlighted the transport options being put before Aucklanders, “to emphasise it to your community as a critical part of their consideration”.

As part of the consultation the city’s residents will be asked whether they support a fuel tax of 1.2 cents a litre and an extra one per cent rates rise, or a motorway toll of $2 a trip, to help pay for an additional $12 billion in transport projects over the next 30 years.

Without the funding the council would need to stick with its $6.9 billion “basic” transport programme, which includes the inner city rail link but excludes most local and arterial roading projects, almost all new park and ride facilities, and a busway from the city’s north-west.

Provost said the proposed funding options gave her “more comfort” than she’d felt the last time Auckland set its LTP. “However there’s still a significant hurdle, the need for legislative change (to allow for road tolling or a fuel tax),” she said.

Other key points in the LTP are:

– an average annual rates rise of 3.5 per cent;

– an additional $800 million for parks, community and lifestyle projects;

– setting the fixed Uniform Annual General Charge portion of rates at $385;

– setting the business sector contribution of rates at 32.8 per cent for the next financial year, reducing that to 25.8 per cent by 2025/26.

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Source and full article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/64283849/Public-will-have-a-say-on-Auckland-transport

 

It is of note with the 5,000 people survey for transport funding options:

Five thousand randomly selected Aucklanders are set to have their say on how the city should solve its projected $12 billion transport funding shortfall.

An independent report has said the best way for Auckland to plug the funding gap is either with motorway tolls of $2 a trip or higher rates and fuel taxes – neither of which are likely to be popular options.

Auckland Council has proposed the random survey as part of its consultation with residents on its 10-year plan.

Some councillors wanted a referendum on the issue but that was rejected as too costly. The random poll was  proposed as a compromise.

The five-minute questionnaire – done over the phone, online or posted in – would be completed by April 16.

“This hybrid approach will ensure the survey achieves maximum reach across the region,” council documents said.

The independent quantitative survey would be conducted by an independent body and have a margin of error of plus or minus 1.4 per cent.

Councillor George Wood, who supported a referendum, was not convinced.

“Randomly doing surveys, I don’t think it’s the best way to do it.

“I presume it’s an endeavour to get an answer, something that has some certainty, because the answer they get will indicate clearly one way or the other what the preference of Aucklanders is.

“But we’ve only got two options, that’s either road tolling or petrol tax and rates. I asked that they put in a third option which was ‘neither of those two’.”

Auckland blogger Ben Ross questioned whether 5000 was a large enough sample for a city of 1.5 million residents.

“How random would it really be if they come across people with pretty indoctrinated views?”

Council spokesman Glyn Walters said it surveyed Aucklanders all the time, and 5000 was a relatively large sample. No decisions had yet been made regarding who would conduct the survey, what questions would be asked, or a budget for the work, he said.

Councillors will vote at this Thursday’s council meeting whether to proceed with the survey.

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Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/64283849/Public-will-have-a-say-on-Auckland-transport

 

We seem to have three options with the transport funding options:

1. $2 motorway tolle
2. 1% rates rise on top of any other rates rises, AND 1.2cents fuel tax year on year for about nine years
3. Do nothing

Also there is a chance we could get hit with a targeted rate defined by Local Board areas for the 2015/2016 year until the alternative transport funding options are sorted (if they are every sorted). And yes I got quoted. If we are going to run a survey might as well do 10,000 – 50,000 as 5,000 is just asking for a caning from ratepayers on perception grounds. As we know lose the spin and perception control and the truth no longer matters.

 

This effectively concludes Auckland Council coverage until January 23, 2015 when the Long Term Plan consultation begins. Until then the Talking Auckland Summer Series beings although depending on the Official Information Act requests that are due for responses on the 22nd December I might through a couple of Auckland commentary pieces in there.

 

Talking Auckland does wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe Summer break