A plan for the Waikato Regional Council to extend its role to manage public transport outside of Hamilton is up for public debate.
An amendment to its long term plan proposes the council takes rates responsibility for services in Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki and Matamata-Piako districts.
“Our proposal doesn’t just make transport funding more efficient, it gives us the flexibility to deliver better services too,” Cr Denis Tegg said.Rates taken for transport outside of Hamilton are managed by the respective area’s district councils and funnelled to Waikato Regional Council, which pays for public transport in Te Awamutu.
The proposed change will simplify how the public transport rates are handled in these districts.Feedback is open to the end of April and public submissions will be heard by May.
The council is also proposing a 7.8 per cent rate increase for 2022-23 – and a total rates revenue of $121.879 million.
This is an increase of roughly $33 in rates, for a property with a capital value of $890,000.
Both plans are scheduled to be finalized on June 20.
