Big jump in water costs if water company & water meters introduced

Auckland water/wastewater charges = 30.5% of rates under their CCO/Hamilton water/wastewater charges = 16.5% of rates under existing Council operation

A comparison of the average Hamilton City residential rates and the water charges and rates of an Auckland residential property show that water and wastewater costs form a far higher proportion of total rates in Auckland than they currently do in Hamilton.

Councillor Dave Macpherson, who was supplied the figures by Council CEO Richard Briggs, and by an Auckland ratepayer, said “Hamilton residents are heading for much higher overall rates costs in the long run if they they are dragged down the CCO and water meters path."

[copies of source information attached to this release].

The charges for water and wastewater for the Howick, Auckland property were $85.94 for the month of August. August is regarded as an average usage month, so this monthly total suggests an annual total water charge of over $1,000 per property. This represents 30.5% of the total rating costs (general Auckland Council rates, including regional functions, plus water rates).

According to Hamilton City Council figures, the average annual water and wastewater charges within the rates come to $412, or 16.5% of the total rating costs (including regional rates).

“From what we hear, the Auckland water and wastewater rates charge of $85 per month is around average, if not a little low. $1000 a year for water in Auckland is not uncommon, and that is charged by the same sort of water company, or CCO, that Hamilton proposes to set up."

“This is the sort of charge Hamiltonians will face if their Council sets up a water company. It is not something we need – nothing is broken, and nothing needs fixing!”

“However, the lack of democracy in the process set up by the current Council is perhaps the worst aspect – by a majority vote they refused to put out the alternative status quo for consultation, and will only inform Hamilton residents about their favoured CCO model."

Cr Macpherson said “the opponents of water meters and the CCO have no problem if this expensive change goes out for consultation, PROVIDED there are alternatives for the public to consider, such as the existing status quo, including sharing big ticket infrastructure costs with other local councils.”

"The existing Council, by refusing to be democratic, and by being sucked in by consultant’s promises of a brighter water future, have created this as an election issue."

Howick Property rating information (note: the value is well below the average Auckland value)
Total annual rates (2016/2017)
$2,362.57 (GST inclusive)
The following information and values were used to assess the 2016/17 rates. The valuation displayed is an assessment of the value of the property as at 1 July 2014 based on sales.
Land value (used for 2016/2017 rates)
$255,000
Capital value (used for 2016/2017 rates)
$640,000

Hamilton City Council rating information, supplied by CEO
2016/17 AVERAGES FOR GENERAL RESIDENTIAL RATING ASSESSMENTS
LV General Rate
1,610.12
CV General Rate
402.66
Access Hamilton
83.40
Hamilton Gardens
11.75
Average Total Rates
2,107.93
Allocation of core services
Water 10.7%
226.03
Sewerage 8.8%
186.90
Refuse 5.0%
106.43

ends

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