Every three years, Council sets about developing a Long Term Plan (LTP) in consultation with you, our community. The LTP is a key strategic planning document that sets out the community vision, work plans and budgets for the next 10 years.
In the years between Long-Term Plans, Council produces an Annual Plan to check in on how things are going and where we might need to make some changes to keep delivering the services that our communities need and expect.
Although we were meant to start a new Long-Term Plan process as expected in 2024, due to the changing political landscape and legislation around the Water Service Act Bill, central government has given local councils the option to defer their 2024-2034 Long-Term Plans by 12 months and instead prepare an ‘enhanced’ Annual Plan for the 2024/25 financial year.
On 28 February 2024, Waikato District Council decided to take this option and deliver a short-term plan, called the 2024/25 Annual Plan which was adopted by Council on 26 June 2024.
Why we chose the ‘enhanced’ Annual Plan option?
The decision to opt for a 2024/25 Annual Plan was driven by our commitment to ensuring that our ratepayers are charged with the right amount for the services they receive. The most important thing to us is the wellbeing of our communities, and the enhanced Annual Plan process helps achieve the best outcome for everyone involved.
This decision has additionally been influenced by the need to leverage confirmed rating valuations, secure Waka Kotahi (New Zealand Transport Agency) subsidies for the district’s roading programme, and have a better understanding of water infrastructure requirements, central government policy and affordability implications.
Essentially, throughout this new process we were able to:
- Address immediate changes and challenges facing our district around water infrastructure.
- Receive an official confirmation on our funding from Waka Kotahi in September 2024, which typically accounts for about a third of the Council’s total budget, with 51 per cent subsidised by Waka Kotahi.
- Address funding, affordability, and timelines around the rates revaluation process.
It gives us more time to engage with you about the services, activities, and projects we will deliver, and how much they will cost in rates.
See below for more information on some of the key factors behind our decision.
Why have we chosen the ‘enhanced’ Annual Plan option?
The decision to opt for a 2024/25 Annual Plan has been driven by our commitment to ensuring that our ratepayers are charged with the right amount for the services they receive. The most important thing to us is the wellbeing of our communities, and the enhanced Annual Plan process will achieve the best outcome for everyone involved.
This decision has additionally been influenced by the need to leverage confirmed rating valuations, secure Waka Kotahi (New Zealand Transport Agency) subsidies for the district’s roading programme, and have a better understanding of water infrastructure requirements, central government policy and affordability implications.
Essentially, throughout this new process we will be able to:
- Address immediate changes and challenges facing our district around water infrastructure.
- Receive an official confirmation on our funding from Waka Kotahi in September 2024, which typically accounts for about a third of the Council’s total budget, with 51 per cent subsidised by Waka Kotahi.
- Address funding, affordability, and timelines around the rates revaluation process.
It will also give us more time to engage with you about the services, activities, and projects we will deliver, and how much they will cost in rates.
See below for more information on some of the key factors behind our decision.