Auckland Council 'arrogant' for raising rates

Auckland Council is being labelled arrogant over its plans to raise business rates and increase debt.

Commercial property owners will be paying more than double the rates of comparable residential properties.

Property Council chief Connal Townsend says it's unfair and will drag down the city's economy.

He's also unhappy with plans to borrow more money, which he says contradict the Better Local Government plan.

"What strikes us as so ridiculous is Auckland Council asking for submissions on its long term plan virtually the same week as central government have come out expressing major national concerns with this sort of approach."

Connal Townsend wonders who apart from ratepayers, will fund the extra borrowing.