"I’m sorry, I’m not looking at a cap," Cr Andrew Whiley told his colleagues yesterday before the Dunedin City Council approved its 2025-34 draft long-term plan consultation document.
"We want the community to feel that they can come and engage with us and feel listened to," he said.
"Dunedin is going to thrive over the next 10 years if we invest in it."
Cr Whiley was on a different track to Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, who has advocated for rates rises to be kept under 10%.
The draft plan includes rates rises in the first three years of 10.5%, 10.2% and 10.1%.
Mr Radich said there was scope to get the rise down to single digits and to have the debt trajectory "flattening right off at the end" of the nine-year plan.
The mayor has also been an advocate for investment in infrastructure and pushed for a $29.2 million package of immediate stormwater improvements in South Dunedin.
Cr Jim O’Malley said starting with a rates figure and then making the budget fit this was a "tail-wagging-the-dog situation".
Other councils with this mentality in the past were now facing steep rates rises, as deferring work that needed to be done was unhelpful in the long run, he said.
"I won’t be looking to cut too much out of this budget, myself."
Cr Mandy Mayhem had a message for anybody planning to campaign in this year’s council elections.
"This is a document you should read," she said.
"You should take it to your bedside every night and go through this, along with standing orders and the code of conduct for elected members."
The consultation document "explains, really in plain English, the fiscally tight situation that the council is operating under at the moment".
Cr Christine Garey said activities were often mandated by central government without additional resourcing.
"It feels like we’re being hung out to dry, somewhat."
She called for people from the arts sector to come out in force to declare their views, as well as people who wanted additional zero-carbon investment and more community housing.
Deputy Mayor Cherry Lucas said she wanted to see a smaller rates increase.
"I’ve heard from so many people already we need to spend less."
Cr Brent Weatherall said the equation was simple — more spending produced higher rates and "if you want to pay less rates, spend less".
"The priority of the projects to be considered is what I’m wanting to see.
"My priorities are certainly different from the draft document most councillors have agreed on."
Cr Marie Laufiso said "mokopuna decisions" were required, keeping in mind future generations.
Cr Steve Walker said lack of spending had consequences.
Support for Dunedin Railways was strategically wise and finishing the shared path and roading upgrade on the Otago Peninsula "simply fulfills a promise that we should absolutely not break", he said.
Building the Smooth Hill landfill was "by far the best option for ratepayers in the long term", he said.
However, Cr Walker said the council lacked ambition for dealing with the climate crisis and it was denying the South Dunedin Community Network a subsidised space in the planned South Dunedin library.
The public consultation period runs from Monday until April 30.
