4.3.4 Funding for local boards

Auckland Council must adopt a local boards funding policy as part of its long-term plan. This policy sets out how the Governing Body allocates funding to local boards. 

The funding approach must: 

The current policy, adopted in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 (10-year budget), sets out how local boards are funded for operating and capital activities. 

Operating funding

Operating funding is made up of: 

The Governing Body sets the total general rates operating funding pool, which is then distributed to local boards based on: 

Exceptions apply to Waiheke and Āotea / Great Barrier local boards, which receive adjusted funding due to their low populations [1]. 

The Governing Body will also provide operating funding for specific items identified in the Local Board Funding Policy 2025 [2], based on the assets and services in each local board area. 

Operating funding is used to fund the day-to-day costs of running local assets and services, like libraries, pools and parks, as well as provide local programmes and initiatives. Operating activities include: 

With increased local board decision-making, local boards have discretion over most funding and services (with exceptions set out in the Local Board Funding Policy 2025). Local boards can allocate operating funding within or between different activities as needed. 

Governance services funding (administration costs)

Each local board is allocated governance services funding, which is primarily based on the number of elected members. It includes: 

Local boards have governance oversight and can propose changes to service levels over time, subject to Governing Body-set minimum service levels. 

Capital funding

The Governing Body sets the total capital funding pool, which is then distributed to local boards based on: 

Exceptions apply to Waiheke and Āotea / Great Barrier local boards, which receive adjusted funding due to their low populations [1]. 

The Governing Body can also provide capital funding for specific items identified in Local Board Funding Policy [2]. 

Capital funding is used to fund capital expenditure (the long-term investment in new or upgraded assets), which may be informed by: 

Examples: 

Other local board funding options 

Local Board Transport Capital Fund: Auckland Council approved Auckland Transport setting aside capital funding each year for small-scale projects for each of the 21 local boards. These projects prioritise investment in ‘active mode upgrades’ (infrastructure to support walking, cycling and other forms of active transport) and safety measures. The current funding level approved is approximately $20 million per year. and is allocated to local boards according to the Local Board Funding policy. 

Local boards can also recommend to the Governing Body, through an annual plan or long-term plan process, to set a targeted rate to fund: 

This rate must be consulted on and agreed with the local community. 

Footnotes

[1] Long-term Plan 2024-2034. Volume 3 Local Board Funding Policy

[2] Section 3.3 of the Local Board Funding Policy 2025