Christchurch ratepayers are being spared the full brunt of a huge 28 percent rates rise under a proposal from the mayor, Lianne Dalziel.
The council has just finished consulting with Cantabrians on its 10-year Long Term Plan.
Mayor Lianne Dalziel and councillor Raf Manji this morning. Photo: RNZ / Sally Murphy
The plan proposed a rates rise of 28 percent over three years and $750 million worth of asset sales, to help meet a $1.9 billion budget shortfall.
Today Lianne Dalziel said she was proposing a smaller rates rise of just under 8 percent next year, and rises in year two and three will also be lower than the increases originally proposed.
She said the total increase envisaged over three years was still being worked out but it would be less than 28 percent.
"We'll have a set of figures to the Auditor General by Monday, but as I say we are down to the wire in terms of analysing some of the impacts of some of the decisions that we need to make."
Ms Dalziel said her proposal would be voted on by the full council at the end of the month.
Asset sales stay in the mayor's proposal, but assets including the port, airport and the lines company Orion would only be sold after a further period of public consultation.