Ashburton’s ‘realistic' annual plan budget adopted
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The adoption of one of the Ashburton District’s biggest rate increases in over a decade is a “realistic budget”.
The near 10% average rates increase was approved by the Ashburton District Council on Wednesday when it adopted its 2022-23 annual plan.
“We have done a very realistic budget,” councillor John Falloon said.
“It will be interesting to see where other territorial authorities are in 15 months’ time when they report on their actual results to the end of June 2023 and where we will be because I don’t think we will have to dip into reserves or anything like that to get through because we have done a realistic budget.”
Mayor Neil Brown highlighted that the external pressures from inflation, Covid-19, and supply chain issues were “not our friend in this year’s budget”.
“It is going to be an interesting year ahead," Brown said. “This is our best estimate and I think it is a pretty accurate estimate.
“We will be doing everything we can to stick to it and deliver the work programme.”
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan said the council had left no stone unturned during the process.
“The 9.4% seems very high but we have put the work in. We have looked at everything,” she said.
Behind the 9.4% average rise is inflation factored in at 5%, flood recovery, new drinking water regulation compliance and the completion of the new library and civic centre.
Any projects carried over from the 2021-22 financial year will go before the council in a report for deliberation over the future of those projects.
Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.
If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?
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62.6% Summer
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35.9% Winter
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
What word sums up 2024, neighbours?
If 2020 was the year of lockdowns, banana bread, and WFH (work from home)....
In one word, how would you define 2024?
We're excited to see what you come up with!
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
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