Your support as a ratepayer makes the Western Bay of Plenty District one of New Zealand’s best places to live, work and play.

We seldom think about the things rates pay for, without them we’d find it pretty difficult to get a glass of clean water, get safely to work or school, or play at the park.

So here’s a quick snapshot of what rates are, what they pay for and when you need to pay them. Thanks for doing your bit to make the Western Bay a great place!

What’s included in this guide:• Why do we pay rates? • Important dates and how to pay • Frequently asked questions • Your rates invoice explained • What the different rates mean • What are my rates paying for? • Who to contact for more information.

Important Dates 28 September 2018 Last day for discount – pay your year’s rates in full by this date for a 3% discount.

26 October 2018 Final date for first instalment payment – last day to pay first instalment without incurring a 10% penalty fee.

1 January 2019 – 10% late payment penalty from this date on any outstanding amounts from the previous rating year 2017/2018.

22 March 2019 Final date for second instalment payment – last day to pay second instalment without incurring a 10% penalty fee.

How can I pay my rates?Direct debit The amount required to meet your property’s rates is deducted from your bank account monthly, six-monthly or once a year. You can now set up a direct debit online, please visit our website www.westernbay.govt.nz/directdebit

Online credit cardPay your rates on Council’s website, using Mastercard or Visa: www.westernbay.govt.nz/rates/payments-online Please note, there is an applicable fee for credit card payments.

Cash, cheque, credit card or EftposYou can pay all, or part of your rates at any of our Service Centres.

Automatic paymentYou can pay a fixed sum at regular intervals. Just make sure your total amount is paid before the penalty date. You can request an automatic payment form from our Customer Services team on 07 571 8008 or 0800 926 732, or by emailing customerservice@westernbay.govt.nz or alternatively via our website www.westernbay.govt.nz/paymyrates. Please make sure you set your automatic payment to clear your instalments before the penalty date to avoid a penalty.

Internet/phone banking Council’s bank details are: ANZ Tauranga 01-0434-0180600-00. Use your name and valuation number as a reference.

Save money by paying your rates early.Pay your year’s rates in full before 5pm, 28 September 2018 and receive a 3% discount.

Guide to your rates2018/2019

Why do we pay rates?Rates are used to provide and maintain essential services throughout the District. They make it possible to have necessities such as roads, water, sewerage systems and other quality infrastructure.

They also help provide community services and facilities including parks and reserves, libraries, pools, animal services, economic support, street cleaning and recycling centres.

Why are rates bills so complicated?We understand that your rates invoice can be difficult to navigate, however everything on it is required under law, specifically the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.

Why do rates vary for different ratepayers?There are three main types of rates: a general rate based on the capital value of your property; roading rates based on land value to cover the cost of building and maintaining roads; and targeted rates for services and facilities that benefit particular groups of residents.

How you are rated varies depending on where you live, what services you can access and the value of your property. Council does not determine the land valuations. They are carried out by an independent valuation company and approved by the Office of the Valuer General. Council then applies this information to set its rates.

What is the rating year and why is it split into two instalments?The rating year is from 1 July to 30 June. It’s split into two instalments to help spread the cost over the year. You can opt to spread this cost further by paying your rates monthly by direct debit.

Why do I have to pay a rate for solid waste?The solid waste rate is charged per rating unit. It contributes to the cost of operating solid waste facilities across the entire District – including transfer stations and ongoing work at closed tip sites to ensure the environment is protected.

Why am I paying both a roading and rural roading rate?Roading accounts for 21% of all rates. Geography plays a big part in this, due to the Western Bay being a large, mainly rural and thinly populated District with 1,056km of local roads.

Every rating unit is assessed for a roading rate (based on land value) and a set roading charge. Rural property owners also pay a ‘rural works charge’ used to fund roading projects in rural areas.

Why am I paying a water rate when I am on metered water?The water component on your rates invoice helps with maintenance of our District’s water treatment plants, pumping stations and pipes. The ‘per cubic metre’ rate helps fund the delivery of safe, clean drinking water.

Why do I pay for libraries and community halls?Libraries and community halls are valued services available to, and of benefit to, the whole community. For this reason the cost is spread across all rating units.

Why are the penalties so high? When rates are paid late, or not at all, Council must borrow money to cover its costs – creating additional interest costs for ratepayers. The 10% penalty rate encourages people to pay on time. Penalties are set by Council in accordance with sections 57 and 58 of the Local Government Rating Act, and make up less than 1% of Council’s total revenue.

Frequently asked questions

00000 000 00 2019/00000 26 Oct 2018 $1,611.37 06817 100 00

MR A SAMPLE

Rates Invoice/Assessment Tax Invoice/Credit Note G.S.T. No. 52-544-300

MR A SAMPLE 17 SAMPLE STREET SAMPLE TOWN 0000

Western Bay of Plenty District Council 1484 Cameron Road, Greerton Tauranga 3112 Private Bag 12803, Tauranga Mail Centre, Tauranga 3143 Ph: 07 571 8008 Fax: 07 577 9820 www.westernbay.govt.nz

Bay of Plenty Regional Council (on behalf of) PO Box 364 Whakatane 3158 Ph: 0800 884 880 Fax: 0800 884 882 Email: info@boprc.govt.nz

Valuation Reference 00000 000 00 Invoice Number 2019/00000 Invoice Date 04 September 2017 Printed Date 13 August 2018 Location 1 SAMPLE STREET Land Area 0.0378 Land Value 128,000 Capital Value 308,000 Special Land Value 0 Legal Description LOT 1 DP 00000 BLK IX SAMPLE SD

Total rates assessed 2018/19

Units Rate Annual Amount

Units Rate Annual Amount

ANNUAL GENERAL CHARGE DISTRICT LIBRARY CHARGE PROMOTION CHARGE RESOURCE CENTRE TOWN CENTRE DEVELOPMENT WESTERN BAY MUSEUM GENERAL RATE

COMMUNITY BOARD RATE ROADING RATE ROADING CHARGE SOLID WASTE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STORMWATER CHARGE COMMUNITY HALL CHARGE SEWERAGE CHARGE

METERED WATER - TREATMENT AND SUPPLY

1 1 1 1 1 1

308,000 1

128,000 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

245.00000000 72.57000000 8.00000000 5.03000000

20.00000000 3.26000000 0.00091240

20.86000000 0.00081500

72.30000000 78.39000000 32.61000000

389.34000000 7.00000000

907.43000000 382.10000000

245.00 72.57 8.00 5.03

20.00 3.26

281.02 20.86

104.32 72.30 78.39 32.61

389.34 7.00

907.43 382.10

REGIONAL COUNCIL GENERAL RATE REG CNCL CIVIL DEFENCE RATE REG CNCL TRANSPORT RATE REGIONAL COUNCIL UAGC

128,000 1 1 1

0.00027134 17.43000000 12.51000000

108.40000000

34.73 17.43 12.51

108.40

TOTAL excl GST 173.07 COMBINED TOTAL includes GST of 420.35

TOTAL RATES (1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019) $3,222.65

Opening balance 1 July (from prior year)

0.00 Previous instalment this year

0.00 Payments received this year

0.00 Penalties incurred this year

0.00 Adjustments this year

0.00 Balance brought forward

0.00

Instalment 1 of 2 01 Jul 2018 – 31 Dec 2018 1511.85 Instalment 1 of 2 01 Jul 2018 – 31 Dec 2018 99.52

TOTAL excl GST 2629.23 Total now due by 26 Oct 2018

$1,611.37

Current instalment total includes GST of $210.18

Payments received after 13 August 2018 are not included in Total Now Due

Discount: A discount of 3% is available if total annual rates are paid in full prior to close of business on 28 Sep 2018.

Please pay $3,125.97 plus or minus any brought forward balance.

Penalty: A penalty of 10% will be applied to any unpaid portion of this instalment at the close of business on 26 Oct 2018.

EXAMPLE

Your rates invoice explained

Valuation referenceYour valuation reference is your property’s unique number. This should be quoted when making enquiries or payments.

Below are a few of the key areas of your rates invoice explained. This is an example only.

‘Units’, ‘Rate’ and ‘Annual amount’‘Units’ refer to what your charge is based on – it could be your land value or capital value, or it could be a flat charge per property (Unit = 1).‘Rate’ is the amount you pay per unit.‘Annual Amount’ is equal to the ‘Rates’ multiplied by the ‘Units’ and is what you pay.

Specific rates and chargesThis is where you’ll find specific charges broken down. More information on what these charges are can be found at www.westernbay.govt.nz/myrates

Total amount for the yearThis amount is the total amount of rates due for the year (1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019). It includes Western Bay of Plenty District Council rates and rates that the Bay of Plenty Regional Council asks us to collect on its behalf.

Discount offeredIf you pay your year’s rates in full, including any balances brought forward, before 5pm, 28 September 2018 you will receive a 3% discount on the amount noted here on your rates invoice.

Rates are Council’s main source of income for providing and maintaining essential services.

Rates provide for both District-wide and local activities. Local activities are typically defined by an ‘area of benefit’. This generally includes properties that could or do benefit from the services being provided, for example sewerage.

As a ratepayer you pay the following District-wide rates:

General Rate The General Rate is based on capital value and is used to cover costs associated with the day-to-day running of Council operations.

Uniform Annual General Charge For every rating unit, ratepayers are required to pay a UAGC - for 2018/2019 this is $245. This money is used for the same purposes as the General Rates.

District Library Charge Every ratepayer pays this charge which is used to fund library services throughout our District.

Roading Every ratepayer pays a Roading Rate (this is based on land value) and a fixed Roading Charge per rating unit. Rural property owners are also required to pay a Rural Works Charge which is used to fund roading projects in rural areas.

Environmental Protection Charge This is a fixed charge per rating unit. The income is used to pay for Council initiatives to protect the environment and community health, including a proportion of sewerage and solid waste costs and environmental planning.

What do all the different rates mean?

For a list of local rates, and what they pay for, visit www.westernbay.govt.nz/localrates

00000 000 00 2019/00000 26 Oct 2018 $1,611.37 06817 100 00

MR A SAMPLE

Rates Invoice/Assessment Tax Invoice/Credit Note G.S.T. No. 52-544-300

MR A SAMPLE 17 SAMPLE STREET SAMPLE TOWN 0000

Western Bay of Plenty District Council 1484 Cameron Road, Greerton Tauranga 3112 Private Bag 12803, Tauranga Mail Centre, Tauranga 3143 Ph: 07 571 8008 Fax: 07 577 9820 www.westernbay.govt.nz

Bay of Plenty Regional Council (on behalf of) PO Box 364 Whakatane 3158 Ph: 0800 884 880 Fax: 0800 884 882 Email: info@boprc.govt.nz

Valuation Reference 00000 000 00 Invoice Number 2019/00000 Invoice Date 04 September 2017 Printed Date 13 August 2018 Location 1 SAMPLE STREET Land Area 0.0378 Land Value 128,000 Capital Value 308,000 Special Land Value 0 Legal Description LOT 1 DP 00000 BLK IX SAMPLE SD

Total rates assessed 2018/19

Units Rate Annual Amount

Units Rate Annual Amount

ANNUAL GENERAL CHARGE DISTRICT LIBRARY CHARGE PROMOTION CHARGE RESOURCE CENTRE TOWN CENTRE DEVELOPMENT WESTERN BAY MUSEUM GENERAL RATE

COMMUNITY BOARD RATE ROADING RATE ROADING CHARGE SOLID WASTE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STORMWATER CHARGE COMMUNITY HALL CHARGE SEWERAGE CHARGE

METERED WATER - TREATMENT AND SUPPLY

1 1 1 1 1 1

308,000 1

128,000 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

245.00000000 72.57000000 8.00000000 5.03000000

20.00000000 3.26000000 0.00091240

20.86000000 0.00081500

72.30000000 78.39000000 32.61000000

389.34000000 7.00000000

907.43000000 382.10000000

245.00 72.57 8.00 5.03

20.00 3.26

281.02 20.86

104.32 72.30 78.39 32.61

389.34 7.00

907.43 382.10

REGIONAL COUNCIL GENERAL RATE REG CNCL CIVIL DEFENCE RATE REG CNCL TRANSPORT RATE REGIONAL COUNCIL UAGC

128,000 1 1 1

0.00027134 17.43000000 12.51000000

108.40000000

34.73 17.43 12.51

108.40

TOTAL excl GST 173.07 COMBINED TOTAL includes GST of 420.35

TOTAL RATES (1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019) $3,222.65

Opening balance 1 July (from prior year)

0.00 Previous instalment this year

0.00 Payments received this year

0.00 Penalties incurred this year

0.00 Adjustments this year

0.00 Balance brought forward

0.00

Instalment 1 of 2 01 Jul 2018 – 31 Dec 2018 1511.85 Instalment 1 of 2 01 Jul 2018 – 31 Dec 2018 99.52

TOTAL excl GST 2629.23 Total now due by 26 Oct 2018

$1,611.37

Current instalment total includes GST of $210.18

Payments received after 13 August 2018 are not included in Total Now Due

Discount: A discount of 3% is available if total annual rates are paid in full prior to close of business on 28 Sep 2018.

Please pay $3,125.97 plus or minus any brought forward balance.

Penalty: A penalty of 10% will be applied to any unpaid portion of this instalment at the close of business on 26 Oct 2018.

EXAMPLE

Land and Capital valueThe revaluation process must be undertaken at least every three years by all councils in New Zealand for the purpose of helping to set rates. The most recent revaluation in the Western Bay was 2016, with the next scheduled for December 2019. Capital value is the most likely selling price at the date of valuation and includes buildings and other improvements, but excludes chattels.Land value is the most likely selling price of the bare land at the date of valuation. It includes bare land and development work such as drainage, retaining walls and levelling. Land value excludes buildings or other improvements.

For more information please go to our website: www.westernbay.govt.nz/myrates

We know internet isn’t an option for everyone, so please:

Call our Customer Services team on: 07 571 8008 or 0800 926 732

Or visit your nearest Library & Service Centre:

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Head Office Barkes Corner, 1484 Cameron Rd, Greerton, Tauranga. Open Monday – Friday: 8am – 5pm

Te Puke Library & Service Centre 130 Jellicoe Street, Te Puke Mon-Fri: 8am – 5pm; Sat: 9am – 12pm

Omokoroa Library & Service Centre McDonnell Street, Omokoroa Mon-Fri: 9am – 5pm; Sat: 9:30am – 12pm

The Centre – Pātuki Manawa 21 Main Road, Katikati Mon-Fri: 8am – 5pm; Sat: 9am – 12pm

Waihi Beach Library & Service Centre Waihi Beach Community Centre Waihi Beach Road, Waihi Beach Tuesday & Friday: 8:30am – 5pm; Sat: 9am – 12pm

Want to know more?What are my rates paying for? The Western Bay District covers 212,000 hectares, 202km of harbour and 55km of ocean beach. Maintaining and providing essential services from one end of our District to the other isn’t cheap.

Council maintains more than 1,056km of local road and 160km of footpaths. We have 222 parks and reserves that cater for more than 1,000 games every year. We have four libraries that offer more than 82,826 items for borrowing.

Did you know 21% of our District’s rates are spent on roading? This goes far beyond sealing and general maintenance.

This graph gives you an idea of how rates we receive are shared across different areas that benefit our community.*

These are broad categories that cover everyday activities. For example, regulatory services includes things like animal control and building consents.

Rates also fund promotion and economic support for community groups, events, food safety, road safety, community safety initiatives, arts and culture, information centres, civil defence, sewage disposal, dog control, parking, district planning and noise control.

*Please note: some rates are dependent on whether a service is received and may not be charged to all rating units.

What makes up total rates 2018-2019:

Te Kaunihera a rohe mai i nga Kuri-a-Wharei ki Otamarakau ki te Uru

westernbay.govt.nz