Budget Balances Savings with Ongoing Investment In Auckland
Media release
6 May
2012
Budget Balances Savings with Ongoing
Investment In Auckland
Auckland Council
will this week consider its budget for the 2013/14
year.
Council’s Strategy and Finance Committee
will meet on Thursday to make decisions on proposals
consulted on earlier this year as part of its draft Annual
Plan.
The plan includes a capital programme of
close to $1.7 billion across the council group, including
council-controlled organisations (CCOs).
The
capital programme includes:
· $729 million for
service level improvements including upgrades to local
parks, arts and recreational facilities, upgrades to
transport, water and stormwater
infrastructure
· $524 million to maintain our assets within the proposed capital programme
· $424 million
to expand the city’s infrastructure to support our growing
population.
In addition, the organisation is
investing more than $3.2 billion a year on business
operations. For the coming year this
includes:
· increased funding for volcanic cones, regional community events and groups
· an
additional $8 million of capacity within our operating
budget to support a number of worthwhile investment
proposals.
The organisation is also building strong
communities with investment in local libraries, parks,
recreation, arts and cultural facilities planned for the
next year.
The draft plan also includes proposals
to reduce costs to ratepayers. Council plans to deliver more
than $64 million of new ongoing operating savings for
2012/2013 and 2013/2014, in addition to the $81 million of
efficiency savings delivered since the first year of the new
council.
Other proposals include increasing the
proportion of costs recovered through user pays charges for
some services.
The Mayor will present his final
budget proposal to councillors for their consideration at
the meeting. The final annual plan needs to be adopted and
rates set in June.
New fees and charges will come in to
effect from 1 July.
ENDS