Possible new sources of funding for the council: Robertson

Finance Minister Grant Robertson told boards that he would consider new ways to raise funds, including the ability to set targeted rates and special taxes to fund local projects.

The Productivity Commission will undertake a survey of the pressures on local councils and how to finance and fund them.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and others demand that councils receive more fundraising mechanisms.

Dunedin Mayor and LGNZ President Dave Cull said that the only funding mechanism for local governments limited decision-making because it discouraged investment in things like infrastructure

. advice was therefore inclined not to do what needed to be done.

Decentralized communities with other means of raising funds

M. Cull said the LGNZ had launched a "localism project" aimed at rebalancing the respective funding and decision-making powers of the government and local government.

million. Cull said the decision-making should be as close as possible

The conference ends tomorrow.

– NZME Supplementary Reports