Aotea / Great Barrier residents from the southwest of the island are being urged to attend a community barbecue in the park to discuss Auckland Council’s proposed Annual Budget and plans to address a $295 million budget gap, including cuts to operating costs for local boards.
Local Board chair Izzy Fordham is concerned residents may be unaware local projects and services could be affected.
Each financial year, Auckland Council is required to adopt an Annual Budget, which outlines how the allocated budget for the year will be used.
The Annual Budget 2023/2024 is being prepared in the context of an uncertain economic environment, involving rapidly rising inflation and interest rates.
Izzy is urging people from around the motu to provide feedback on the draft budget, with two community barbecues left, providing the chance to discuss the budget in person. Barbecues in Medlands and Okiwi earlier in March attracted a high attendance from locals keen to chat about their views.
“According to the budget proposal, our local board’s annual discretionary budget will go from being $714,000 to $367,000. This budget funds local community grants, events, and environmental projects which may be discontinued or have significantly reduced funding next financial year,” says Izzy.
“The local board has a special capital grants budget which allows community groups to maintain and upgrade their community facilities. We propose to reduce the capital grants budget by up to 50 per cent to top up the annual discretionary budget. This would provide some limited funds to continue a few local grants and projects.
“Come to one of the barbecues we are putting on and let us know your priorities, and if you agree with our proposal to use some of the capital grants budget to provide limited funding towards local community grants and environmental programmes.
“If you can’t make it, or have missed the one in your area, that’s not a problem, as you can also provide feedback online.”
Some key priorities and projects will continue (but may be scaled down), including:
- Track maintenance
- Mowing
- Waste management
- Library services
Services that could end or be reduced include:
- Community grant programmes
- Environmental restoration and pest control
- Water quality projects such as riparian planting
The final barbecues in the park are on Saturday 18 March at Okupu Reserve, 12-2pm, and Saturday 25 March at Mulberry Grove Reserve, 12-2pm.
Your feedback provided at these events will also be taken into consideration in the draft of our Local Board Plan which will be adopted later this year, outlining the board’s plan for the next three years.
Alternatively you can submit your feedback on the budget proposal online at akhaveyoursay.nz/budget before 28 March 2023.
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