About your rates

Your rates help make Otago a great place to live, work and play.

As a regional council, we have a different role to a city or district council. We’re responsible for managing Otago’s water, land and air resources on behalf of the community. We also contract public transport services, play a role in transport planning, work to reduce the risk of flooding, and lead the planning for responses to natural disasters to keep people and properties safe.

The breakdown of spending this year

2023-2024 Annual Spend

Our focus this year:

• Developing a new Land and Water Regional Plan
• Greater biodiversity, environmental enhancement and emergency management

Read more about  the annual spend on Transport, Environment, Regional Leadership, and Safety and Resilience

Types of rates

Rates are divided into general rates, region-wide targeted rates and targeted rates in specific areas.

General rates

Everyone pays these rates as the activities they fund benefit the whole region. Forty percent of the income needed from general rates is off-set by investment income from Port Otago dividends and other investments.

Targeted rates

Region-wide targeted rates

Targeted rates pay for a particular activity or service. Every property is charged the same amount regardless of its capital value. Civil defence and emergency management is an example of an activity funded by a uniform targeted rate.

Targeted rates in specific areas

These rates are targeted to specific ratepayers as they pay for work that benefits only some people or parts of the region.

How ORC rates are set

ORC rates are set by a Rates Resolution passed annually by Council. The 23-24 ORC rates were passed in the Council Meeting held on 28 June 2023.

How spending decisions are made

Our budget and rates are set by our ten-year, long-term plan (which we update every three years) and our annual plan (which is the yearly breakdown based on our long-term plan).

Did you know that less than half of the Otago Regional Council’s funding will come from rates payments? The rest comes from:

• Fees and charges, grants
• Reserves
• Port Otago dividends, investment interest

Read our Annual and Long-term plans  

How the work programme is funded

2023-24 Sources of Funding

Rates due date and late payment penalties

The due date for all current year rates is 31 October.

All rates unpaid on 1 November will have a 10% penalty applied.

A further 10% penalty is applied to all rates from previous financial years that remain unpaid on 1 May. Further penalties continue to be applied in accordance with Council resolutions.

Make sure your details are up to date. We are not responsible for late payments. You can opt to receive your rates invoice by email.

Need help?

Don’t wait until the penalty date before raising inquiries; get in touch because we’re here to help. Be sure to have your rates assessment number handy.

The rates assessment number is at the top of your rates invoice.

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