Council pares rates-jump rate

Marlborough District Council took red pens and paring blades to the 2026-27 rates proposal during an intensive deliberation at Thursday's meeting. The resulting figure – an increase of 6.81 percent – came in 2 percent lower than Long Term Plan projections.

Along with authorising $600,000 worth of cost savings in Council departments, councillors accepted recommendations to recoup COVID relief discounts over two years instead of all at once; postpone funding the Emergency Events Reserve for a year; and delay revaluing the depreciation of three waters infrastructure.

The rates increase will be finalised when councillors approve the 2026-27 budget on 25 June.

In other actions taken on Thursday, councillors approved the constitution and name for Marlborough Waters Limited; postponed the Option G Murphys Creek Stormwater Upgrade for 12 months; and reviewed public submissions of ideas for the annual plan.

Check the 20 May edition of Marlborough Weekly and Marlborough App for further coverage.