2021-2031 Long Term Plan adopted

Last week Council adopted the 20121-2031 Long Term Plan. Following community consultation and submissions on the plan, Council made changes to their proposed plan and these were finalised and adopted at an extraordinary meeting of Council with Audit New Zealand.

Of the four key issues Council consulted on, two ended up in the final plan. These were another residential subdivision and universal water metering (dependent on the outcome of the Government’s Three Waters Reform).

The overall rates increase for the 2021/22 financial year is 4.63% with an average annual rates increase of 4.60% for the 10 years covered by the Long Term Plan. These percentages are the change in council’s overall budget, rather than the change that will apply to each or every individual property.

The change that applies to properties is affected by their type, value and shift in value during the recent revaluation and whether it receives council services such as water supply, wastewater or solid waste collection. Updated rates can be accessed through Council’s online rates search at stratford.govt.nz from next week.

Where can I read the plan?

The final Long Term Plan 2021-2031 will be made available on our website here in early July. If you’d like to read it before then you can request to do so by contacting Council on 06 765 6099 or emailing stratforddc@stratford.govt.nz