2024-2025 fees and charges adopted by Council

On Wednesday, July 31 the South Waikato District Council adopted new fees and charges for 2024-2025, which will become effective from Thursday, August 1, 2024.

Council consulted with the public on the draft 2024-2025 fees and charges from April 3 - May 3, 2024.

 Public submissions were received and considered at a Council meeting on May 15 and the following changes were made to the originally proposed fees and charges:

• Cemeteries – fees for Saturday and Sunday burials reduced by $320 following negotiation with the contractor.
• Pensioner Housing – rent increases have been halved. The proposed increases for 2024-2025 will now be spread equally over 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, to allow residents time to adjust to the new rents.
• Financial Contributions – proposed changes to discounts have been removed.
• Swimming Pool Charges – to assist larger families, the ability to add extra children at $50 per child to three-month family passes and seasonable pool family passes has been introduced.

 The new fees and charges can be viewed in full by visiting southwaikato.govt.nz/our-council/fees-and-charges (the webpage will have the new fees and charges added on August 1).

 “These updates are in keeping with the Council kaupapa of recovering costs from those who directly benefit from the service, rather than placing the burden on ratepayers in general,” Acting Mayor Hamish Daine said.

 “While we acknowledge there is still a substantial increase in burial fees, this is due to increased contractor costs since 2018, when fees were last increased for these services.

 “South Waikato District Council cemeteries fees remain comparable with, and in many cases lower than, neighbouring councils.”