$5 million funding for City Mission one step closer

The Mayor’s Annual Budget proposal includes the following key items:

• Record capital investment of over $2.5 billion, including the largest ever transport investment of $1.2 billion
• Progressing the water quality improvement programme to clean up our beaches and streams
• Protecting our Kauri and managing predators through actions funded by the Natural Environment Targeted Rate
• $5 million proposed council contribution to the City Mission’s HomeGround housing project
• $200,000 proposed continued funding to deal with illegal dumping
• Average general rates rise limited to 2.5%
• An additional annual operating savings target of $23 million bringing the savings achieved this term to 4%, with estimated cumulative savings of around $560 million over a decade
• All council staff paid a living wage from 1 September 2019.

In receiving the Mayor’s proposed Annual Budget, Council now begins a formal process of consultation and further committee meetings before agreeing the budget in June next year.

Mayor Phil Goff says, “This budget is about delivering on Auckland Council’s commitment to transform our city into an inclusive, modern, world class city.

“Our 10-year Budget earlier in the year agreed bold plans and record investment that will make Auckland world class. Now, our focus is on getting stuck into the work that will change for the better the way we live, work and play in our city.

“The $5 million additional funding for the City Mission’s HomeGround Project will enable them to increase support for some of the most vulnerable people in our city.

“I want to end homelessness in Auckland. We need to get people off the streets and out of cars and into proper accommodation with supporting services to deal with problems like mental health and addiction which contribute to their homelessness.

The proposed funding to the Auckland City Mission’s HomeGround project will be in addition to Council’s continued support of Housing First which provides homeless people with appropriate housing and supports them with wrap-around services.

“Council is delivering what matters most to our communities, building a modern, efficient and connected transport system, increasing the pace and scale of house building in Auckland, saving our Kauri and cleaning-up our beaches,” says Mayor Phil Goff.

The Annual Budget includes minor changes to rating policy and regulatory fees that will be subject to public consultation in February. Consequential amendments to the Rates Remission and Postponement Policy and Revenue and Financing Policy will also be subject of consultation at the same time.