Official Information Request - Debt and Rates

Sent: Thursday, 25 October 2018 9:13 a.m.

Subject: TRIM: LGOIMA request - debt levels and average rates increases

I refer to your email of 17 October under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act requesting:

1. What was the actual level of debt and the projected level of debt in the LTP at the end of each of the financial years from 2013-2028.
2. What was the actual average increase in rates and the average increase in rates projected in the LTP for each of the financial years from 2013-2018.

Actual debt levels and rates increases have been reported in Annual Reports from 2013-2017. The 2018 Annual Report will be available at the end of October.

Projected debt levels and rates inc reases are included in Council's Long-term Plans or Annual Plans.

All the documents mentioned above are publicly available on Council's website.

As per the Act, we are obliged to advise that you may contact the Ombudsman at the address below if you have any concerns with the response provided by Council, by writing to:

The Office of the Ombudsman

PO Box 10 152

WELLINGTON 6143

Alternatively, you may email info@ombudsman.parliament.nz or use the online complaints form available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-a-complaint.

Regards

Follow-up response:

Sent: Wednesday, 31 October 2018 4:35 p.m.

Subject: TRIM: LGOIMA request - debt levels and average rates increases

Further to your follow-up request of 28 October 2018 to verify your figures, the information you have provided is publicly available in Council's Annual Reports and Long-term Plans, both of which are audited by Audit NZ and available on Council's website at the following links. Information obtained from these documents is correct.

Annual Report 2010 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/Annualreports/Documents/Annual%20Report%202010%203.2mb.pdf

Annual Report 2011 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/Annualreports/Documents/Rotorua%20District%20Council%202011%20Annual%20report.pdf

Annual Report 2012 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/Annualreports/Documents/Annual%20Report%20year%20ended%202012.pdf

Annual Report 2013 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/Annualreports/Documents/Annual-Report-2012-13-Full.pdf

Annual Report 2014 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/Annualreports/Documents/Annual-Report-2013-14.pdf

Annual Report 2015 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/Annualreports/Documents/Annual%20Report%202014-2015.pdf

Annual Report 2016 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/Annualreports/Documents/Annual_Report_2016.pdf

Annual Report 2017 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/Annualreports/Documents/Annual_Plan_2017/RLC_AR_2017_SML_SZ.pdf

Annual Report 2018 - will be available on the Council website within the next week

Long-term Plan 2018-2028 - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/10YearPlans/Documents/LTP-2018_to_2028/LTP_2018-28_Final_Audit_Opinion.pdf

As per the Act, we are obliged to advise that you may contact the Ombudsman at the address below if you have any concerns with the response provided by Council, by writing to:

The Office of the Ombudsman

PO Box 10 152

WELLINGTON 6143

Alternatively, you may email info@ombudsman.parliament.nz or use the online complaints form available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-a-complaint.

Regards

Request from Ombudsman

Sent: Wednesday, 5 December 2018 9:36 a.m.

Subject: TRIM: Request from Ombudsman

Following your complaint to the Ombudsman regarding Council's decision to refer you to the audited Annual Reports for the information requested, the Ombudsman has asked that Council advise you of where in the Annual Reports you can find the information to calculate the percentage rate increases for 2010-2018.

The total percentage change can be calculated by comparing the actual rates revenue for the current and previous years in the Statement of Comprehensive Revenue and Expense contained in the relevant Annual Reports on the following pages:

Annual Report 2010 - page 145

Annual Report 2011 - page 121

Annual Report 2012 - page 122

Annual Report 2013 - page 121

Annual Report 2014 - page 126

Annual Report 2015 - page 95

Annual Report 2016 - page 77

Annual Report 2017 - page 87

Annual Report 2018 - page 152

Regards