Grey Power Wanganui has told the Wanganui District Council to hold its spending so there was a nil rates increase in the coming year.
The idea was floated when the organisation made its submission to the council's 10-year plan hearings yesterday.
President Graham Adams said, given economies around the world were close to deflation, along with other influences impacting on the economy, a nil rate increase for one year at least was achievable.
He said council was projecting rates increases of 4.1 per cent (2015-16) and 3.4 per cent (2016-17) but, he said, based on Local Government New Zealand data there was no justification for any increase beyond 2.3 per cent.
Mr Adams said that, in the past six months, petrol and dairy prices had fallen and the exchange rate remained "stubbornly high". A marked fall in gross domestic product would have a major effect on the regions, including service and retail businesses in Wanganui.