Pensioner Keith Herbert, 74, expressed his concern after receiving his rates bill last month.
Mr Herbert, a bachelor, said he needed money only to cover his own living needs, and his costs were minimal compared to many others.
"A lot of people are not going to be able to afford it."
In figures provided to The Ensign last month, he had calculated his rates had risen 34.42% since 2023.
"It’s absolutely ridiculous, that sort of rates increase."
The average rates rise in the Gore district was 21.4%.
Mr Herbert lives in a 49sqm home in Devon St and has kept track of his rates payments since 2005.
The cost of rates was now 10% of his yearly pension, he said.
"It does not really concern me as much as I’m a bachelor. I’ve learned to live. A lot of people, even on a full fixed income, will never be able to pay it.
"They’ve got no shot of being able to pay the money, not a hope."
He believed people might have to choose between paying their rates or feeding their family.
A potential solution to lower rates could be to sell council-owned property, he said.
Gore District Council chief executive Debbie Lascelles said the council’s customer support and rating teams welcomed inquiries from ratepayers who might be faced with challenges due to their rates bill.
"We always encourage people to contact us sooner rather than later so we can work with them to find the right solution."
She understood that households throughout New Zealand faced financial pressures from many sectors.
"Councils are not immune to the same cost pressures, such as insurance and interest rates," she said.
The council appreciated the economic challenges the community faced and the question of sustainability.
It was about to begin the 2025-2034 long-term plan.
It would look at the levels of services, affordability and how community expectations were met, she said.
The council had previously said it was having to pay more for insurance, interest, compliance, construction, chemicals, salaries, IT projects and the reintroduction of kerbside recycling.
