[UPDATE (03 August 2024):
Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan was approved by Council vote on the 4th of July. Five councillors (Geoff Taylor, Andrew Bydder, Emma Pike, Mark Donovan, and Tim MacIndoe) voted against the plan.
The plan involved a 16.5% rates increase in the first year with rates bills set to double within 6 years. The plan is also projected to double the City Council’s debt before 2030.
Mayor Paula Southgate and Deputy Mayor Angela O’Leary voted for the Long-Term plan along with the following six councillors: Anna Casey-Cox, Kesh Naidoo-Rauf, Louise Hutt, Maxine Van Oosten, Moko Tauriki, and Sarah Thomson.]
Hamilton City Council’s Long-term Plan 2024-2034 is out for public consultation until the 21st of April 2024.
View the plan documents at this link and the Hamilton City Council’s webpage at this link.
Use the link below to complete the public consultation on the website. This needs to be completed before midnight on Sunday the 21st of April.
https://haveyoursay.hamilton.govt.nz/communications/2024-34-ltp/
CityWatch NZ will be update this page about the consultation with links to analysis and opinion on the Long-term plan and approaches to providing effective feedback.
With Hamilton City Council now: nearing $1 billion dollars in debt, planning a 19.9% rates increase this year, signalling cuts to services and staff, and planning to double the size of rates bills by 2029, this is a particularly important Long-term Plan consultation.
We encourage all people in Hamilton to get involved with this consultation process. Read our brief guide to giving feedback during the Long-term Plan consultation.
Calculated based on information on page 26 of the LTP Consultation Document.
Reading the 6-page Finance Strategy is also recommended.
Timeline
21 April 2024 Close of written and digital community consultation
15-17 May 2024 Verbal submissions for community consultation
17 May 2024 Protest against rates increase outside Council building in Garden place (11am-1pm)
4-6 June 2024 “Mayor and Councillors consider all the feedback from the community”
4 July 2024 “Mayor and Councillors confirm the 2024-34 Long-Term Plan”
Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 1 Highlights
Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 2 Highlights
Hamilton City Council is also running these drop-in sessions for the Long-term Plan
Long-Term Plan coming to a library near you
Make a submission on the Long-Term Plan at your nearest Hamilton City Libraries branch.
Join us at out drop-in sessions:
- Te Kete Aronui Rototuna Library: Thursday 11 April, 5pm to 7pm
- Central Library: Sunday 14 April, 1pm to 3pm
- Dinsdale Library: Monday 15 April, 10am to 12pm
- Glenview Library: Tuesday 16 April, 1pm to 3pm
- St Andrews Library: Wednesday 17 April, 1pm to 3pm
- Chartwell Library: Thursday 18 April, 5pm to 7pm
- Hillcrest Library: Friday 19 April, 10am to 12pm
Drop in at any time during these sessions to pick up a hardcopy consultation document and submission form, and chat with your Elected Members. Or give your feedback on the spot on the iPads we’ll have available.
Staff will be on hand to answer any questions and guide you through the process.
Posts related to this issue:
OPINION: Margaret Evans’ submission on the Hamilton City Long-Term Plan
Petition to stop rates increases and growing debt at Hamilton City Council
OPINION: What to keep and what to cut in Hamilton’s Long-Term Plan?
OPINION: Analysis of Hamilton City Council’s financial position
OPINION: Why is Hamilton City Council unable to prepare and promise a financial budget that works?
