Federated Farmers Submission for Stratford District Councils Long Term Plan
We note that Council is proposing a 4.4% average increase in the general rate this year, with average increases of 3% per year over the life of the Plan. It is difficult to gauge what the average rates increase will be for rural people; we note a broad range (0.85% - 7.75%) of averages quoted in the consultation document for sample rural ratepayers. We acknowledge that Council has helpfully included the effects of recent revaluations in these calculations of the impact of rates rises for different types of properties. We are however disappointed that proposed rates increases are as high as they appear to be. Rates rank among the most significant costs for our farmers and are therefore a priority for them; we oppose rates increases as high as those proposed.
We urge Council to keep non-essential spending to a minimum and our position on some of the major items in this Long Term Plan will reflect this.
For more, see the full submission