Tasman District Council today declined a request from the Golden Bay Community Board and the Motueka Community Board to rescind the targeted rate funding the two boards.
Council was advised that it could not make a decision to repeal the targeted rate at this time as the grounds advanced did not meet the requirements of the Rating Act.
Council has also had legal advice confirming that the targeted rate is a legal option to use.
The majority of Councillors agreed it was not an appropriate time for the targeted rate issue to be raised, including several who had originally voted against the rate's introduction.
The appropriate process to review the targeted rate is through the 2009/2010 Annual Plan, which will start in March 2009.
Mayor Richard Kempthorne acknowledged that both Boards are living well within their budgets and if that continued lowering their budgets and their targeted rate could also be a future option to consider.
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