LGOIMA Request Details: LG2388
Date received: 29/08/2025
Requested information: Various questions around rates increase, staff wages, rates for roading and rural
Status: Complete
Response:
The information you have requested is below;
Detailed account of what makes up the 5.99% rates increase
New Initiatives approved by Council | 1.08% |
Reclassification of capital projects from Growth to New Levels of service after consultation with community on development contributions policy | 0.39% |
Government Imposed levies for three waters | 0.34% |
Changes to base Council budget* | 4.18% |
Total | 5.99% |
Examples of most significant cost increases
New initiatives approved by Council – See page 8 of the Annual Plan 2025/26
Projects reclassified from Growth required work to new levels of service work
New Central Government imposed levies for water services
Inflation – Using Local Government Cost Indices calculated by BERL
Interest costs
Insurance
Utilities (Electricity & Gas)
Depreciation – the impact of recent asset revaluations combined with the increase in assets due to the ongoing capital works program.
Infrastructure related expenditure: please see pages 35-39 of the Annual Plan 2025-26 for the Funding Impact Statement which outlines both the revenue and expenditure budgets for the infrastructure area (Roading, Solid Waste, Stormwater, Water Supply, Wastewater)
Debt repayment allocation including interest and principal: please see page 43 of the Annual Plan 2025-26 which outlines the “Proceeds from borrowings” and “Repayment of Borrowings”. Page 29 outlines the cost of borrowings (Finance costs)
Funds set aside for growth and development: please see page 29 Annual Plan 25/26, under applications of capital funding: “To meet additional demand”.
Breakdown of funds paid in wages to council staff:
CEO, Councillors, Senior Management, Management, Administrators:
Councillors: Councillor Salary budget 25/26 $626,111
Staff: Staff salary/wages Budget 25/26 $15,316,933
A further break down of staff costs paid is published in the annual report, Section 30 Renumeration. This can be viewed on the MDC website for the financial year ending 30 June 2024, the Annual Report for 30 June 2025 is currently being audited and not available until completed and adopted by Council in October 2025.
Breakdown of Roading targeted rate – rural: please see the Annual Plan 25/26, Funding Impact Statement – Rating, pages 16-27. Specifically, page 22 headed “Roading Targeted Rate”
Allocation of funds to specific projects, repairs and other works being completed:
Please see the quarterly financial reports available on the Audit and Risk council agenda, available on the council website.
A breakdown of Roading Targeted rate or 24/25 including projects completed with comparisons budget vs actual costs: Please see the relevant sections in the 2024-34 Long term plan. Specific sections: page 215 for the Roading Targeted rate details, and section 5.7 Roading Group starting on page 172. For projects completed with comparison budget and actual costs, please see the Audit and Risk Agendas for the Quarterly financial report, available on the council website - Audit & Risk Committee | Manawatū District Council
A detailed breakdown of the general rate – Rural: Please see 2025-26 Annual Plan, Funding impact statement – Rating, starting on page 16. Most specifically page 19.