An attempt to save Ashburton dog owners a seven per cent hike in registration fees has failed because the effort would have been cancelled out by consultation costs.
As part of the long-term plan 2024-34, the Ashburton District Council agreed to increase its dog control fees by seven per cent annually for five years from 2024/25.
It aimed to ensure enough revenue was being collected from the fees to keep the general rate input below 15 per cent.
At the recent council meeting, first-term councillor Julie Moffett proposed deferring the seven per cent increase in registration fees, but retaining the seven per cent increase for dog control fees “for non-compliance”.
Moffett said the deferral was an attempt to ease the risk of increasing non-compliance from the rising costs.
She said that with the cost of living going up, the registration fee increase was “yet another thing to squeeze people financially”.
Her proposed amendment was initially seconded by Councillor Russell Ellis.
Chief executive Hamish Riach quickly interjected to advise the councillors that the implications of the amendment would force a consultation on the revenue and finance policy.
Riach explained that with the operating budget going up, without the fee going up, the revenue would be below the required level (75 per cent) in the policy.
Ellis calculated the “dollar value” of deferring the seven per cent increase was around $5 per dog, or $34,000 in total for the around 6700 registered dogs in the district, but would be cancelled out by the cost of a consultation process of around $20,000.
He then withdrew his support.
“Times are tough out there, but if we are just going to rob Peter to pay Paul, it does seem a bit pointless.”
Mayor Liz McMillan said that while the amendment had good intentions, without a seconder, it lapsed.
Councillor Phill Everest had offered a tongue-in-cheek solution around cost recovery for impounding, suggesting “those that don’t behave, should pay more”.
Deputy Mayor Richard Wilson supported the user-pays reasoning behind the seven per cent increase.
“If we don’t charge enough to cover our costs, the money doesn’t disappear; it’s just charged to the general rate.
“The general rate is paid by everyone regardless if you have a dog or not.”
Councillor Carolyn Cameron also agreed with the increase to cover the overheads of dog control and management rather than it going on the general rate.
The increased fees will come into effect from July 1.
Examples of 7% registrations increase:
Urban de-sexed dog: $75 to $80. Urban un-neutered: $112 to $120. Urban Menacing: $112 to $120. Urban Dangerous: $169 to $181. Rural (first and second): $75 to $80. Rural (after first two): $35 to $38.
