Annual Plan 2026/2027

The Council adopted the Tough Choices for Lower Rates annual plan for 2026/27 on 30 June 2026, just in time for the beginning of the financial year on 1 July. This is our revised budget for the year, setting out what we will deliver, how it will be funded, and any changes from what was originally planned for the year in the Long Term Plan. 

Read the adopted plan(PDF, 14MB)

In March-April 2026 we asked for feedback on four key proposals and received a wide range of views. Council considered all feedback and made changes in response, including adjusting how some proposals will be implemented and retaining some services that were proposed for reduction. 

The plan responds to rising costs and current economic conditions, while aiming to keep rates as affordable as possible and maintaining services. 

The impacts of this plan will be felt differently across our communities. Some people will notice direct changes, such as reduced Refuse Transfer Station hours in some areas, and increased fees for a range of services. Other changes are less visible but still important, including budget reductions, project delays, and changes to how some services and projects are funded. 

This Annual Plan is a short-term adjustment. Work will continue this year on longer-term options to address ongoing financial challenges. 

Our approach 

Costs have increased beyond what was anticipated in the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan. Inflation, storm recovery, infrastructure needs, changes in government funding, and lower revenue have all contributed to increased costs. 

Even with these pressures, we’ve limited the average rates increase to 3.97%, reducing it significantly from the initially forecast average rates rise of 14%. We know households are facing rising costs, so this plan prioritises affordability for ratepayers. 

To achieve this, we have: 

  • reviewed budgets and services 
  • reduced internal costs 
  • delayed or scaled back some work 
  • increased fees and charges 
  • reduced some rates remissions (subsidies) 

These decisions balance affordability with the need to maintain services you told us were important. 

Our decisions at a glance

  • We did not proceed with reducing mowing and garden maintenance services. 
  • We changed our proposal for transfer stations, keeping sites open seven days a week and reducing hours instead. 
  • We confirmed the increase to fees and charges (an average of 13%). 
  • We confirmed changes to some rates remissions. 

Together, these decisions help limit the average rates increase for 2026/27 to 3.97%. 

What we’re delivering in 2026/27 

Storm recovery works (~$15.5 million) 

Storm recovery and building resilience are major priorities. We are investing significantly in repairing damage and making roads and infrastructure more reliable and better able to withstand future severe weather. This work is funded through a mix of savings, government support, and borrowing. The work spans across almost all of our assets, including 

  • road repairs (the majority of investment) 
  • repairs to water, wastewater, and stormwater networks 
  • restoration of parks, reserves, and coastal assets 

Making infrastructure more resilient:

  • strengthening and improving key roads (such as Port Jackson and Kennedy Bay Roads) so they are more reliable and less likely to be damaged during severe weather 

Projects delayed or rephased: 
  
To help manage costs, some projects are being paused or delivered later than originally planned: 

  • Tōtara Valley services extension 
  • Coromandel Bypass and Tapu–Coroglen (fully Crown funded, so timing changes do not affect rates but do affect delivery) 
  • Te Kōuma intersection improvements 
  • Thames aquatic facility (timing has been pushed out due to ongoing planning complexities, which mean physical works aren’t ready to start this year) 

Community preparedness: 

  • introduction of community emergency response kits to improve readiness for future events 

Renewals and facilities: 

  • ongoing renewals across parks, reserves, cemeteries, and public facilities 

Funding and charges: 

  • higher fees and charges in line with rising costs 
  • reduction in some rates remissions (subsidies) 
  • a full schedule of fees and charges is available here

Looking ahead 

This plan reflects the current financial environment and the need to make careful trade-offs. While we have worked to limit the impact on ratepayers this year, further decisions will be needed as part of our longer-term planning. 

The Council remains focused on maintaining services our community told us is important, supporting recovery, and building a more resilient district. 

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