Imagine a company that not only doesn't add a profit margin on to its service costs, but only pases about 65% of its actual costs on to its customers.

Too good to be true? Actually, no — that's how we operate. Your Council is a $650 million business that asks its customers what services they want and how they should be delivered. And we work hard to find as much of our revenue as possible from sources other than rates.

Whakatāne District Council has set its rates for the financial year starting 1 July 2016 and ending 30 June 2017. The average rates increase for the current financial year is 2.8 percent. Your rates assessment will provide more detail on how your rates are calculated. The Council also collects rates on behalf of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. If you have any queries regarding Regional Council rates, please contact them directly on 0800 884 880.

The year behind... the year ahead

• A dual walk and cycle path between Whakatāne and Ōhope was completed.
• Council's website was judged the supreme winner for the second year in a row.
• International guest nights rose 34% in the last year.
• A project is underway to replace the water connections in Edgecumbe and install water meters.
• In the last year, Council received 33% more building consent applications.
• A new recycling system and in-house mowing from 1 October 2016.
• The Keepa Road Greenwaste composting site will be operational by the end of August 2016.
• A rural school signage upgrade project was completed at Otakiri, Waiohau, Thornton, Waimana, Paroa, and Rūātoki.
• The construction of a new school/community hall has been completed in Murupara.
• Tāneatua's upgraded playground in the Jack Knowles Reserve was officially opened.
• A new UV water treatment system at the Whakatāne Aquatic and Fitness Centre has improved air and water quality.
• A major upgrade to the McAlister stormwater pump station is underway.
• Ownership of the Council's 79 pensioner housing units was transferred to Tawanui Community Housing.
• New box culverts were installed at the Douglas Street and King Street Bridges over the Wainui Te Whara Stream.

Local Elections 2016 - Your Vote, Your Community

The local election to select the District’s Mayor, Councillors and Community Board Members is to be held this year. These are the people who will make the final decisions about how we develop our community, how we set and spend our rates, and where we should be focusing our efforts for the future.

You may be interested in standing for Council and becoming one of the decision-makers for our District. If so, nominations for candidates are open now and close at noon on 12 August, along with the electoral roll.

Local elections for city and district councils will be held from 16 September to 8 October this year. In order to receive a voting paper, you must be enrolled on the electoral roll at your current address. There is also the option for non-resident ratepayers to cast a vote if they choose. So if you are a non-resident ratepayer, new to the area, have recently changed address, have just turned 18, or have never been on the roll - go to www.elections.org.nz or your nearest Post Shop to enrol.

Rates due dates

There will be four instalments for 2016/17 rates, with payments due on the following dates: 

• Instalment 1: Friday, 26 August 2016
• Instalment 2: Friday, 25 November 2016
• Instalment 3: Friday, 24 February 2017
• Instalment 4: Friday, 26 May 2017

Water rates due dates

The following are the due dates for water rates:

Rates and water rates payment options

Several options are available for paying rates and water rates invoices, including:

• Automatic payment
• Telephone banking
• Internet banking
• Eftpos at the counter
• Cheque
• Direct debit
• Online credit card payment

The Whakatāne District Council bank account number for any automatic payments, telephone banking or internet banking is: 01-0434-0334411-03 ANZ

Making online payments via your bank

Please make sure that you include the valuation number from your rates invoice in the reference field, state whether the payment is for 'Rates' or 'Water', and include your surname and initials.

Pay early, save 2.5 percent

The Council offers a discount for ratepayers who pay the total annual rates cost shown on their rates assessment by the due date for the first instalment. If you pay the discounted amount shown on your rates invoice by 5 pm Friday, 26 August 2016, you will save 2.5 percent on the total amount payable.

Please note that to qualify for the discount, any outstanding prior year's rates and penalties must also be paid at the same time.

QV to carry out property revaluations

Rates are based on the valuation of your property. The Council contracts Quotable Value to perform three-yearly property revaluations to reflect changing market values. Revaluations will be carried out in September this year, and the new values will be reflected in your Rates Assessment Notice from the following rating year, commencing 1 July 2017. You can visit www.qv.co.nz to find out more about how your rating value is calculated.

Rates Rebate Scheme

The Council supports and endorses the Government-funded Rates Rebate Scheme and encourages ratepayers to check whether they are eligible. Applicants could be entitled to a rebate of up to $610. Applications must be made each year, and within the applicable rating year. Visit www.ratesrebates.govt.nz for more information.

Payment of rates and water rates by direct debit

Paying your rates and water rates by direct debit is easy and convenient. It means you can avoid standing in queues and never have to worry about missing a payment and incurring late fees. More than 6,000 ratepayers currently use direct debit payments, and there are a number of options available, including fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments. For water rates payments, the direct debit facility will deduct the balance on the due date.