Len Brown outlines proposal for 'no surprises' budget

Mayor Len Brown at the Auckland Council Extraordinary Governing Body meeting held at the Auckland Town Hall. 9 December 2014 New Zealand Herald photograph by Jason Oxenham. WAG 12Aug15 - WGP 12A

Auckland households are in line for a 3.5 per cent rates rise next year, although Mayor Len Brown would like to see this reduced to about 2.8 per cent.

Mr Brown today outlined his first proposal for what will be his last budget, calling it a "no surprises" budget.

It follows a topsy-turvy past few years of introducing a single rates system for the Super City and revaluations - which have contributed to large rates increases and decreases for many ratepayers.

This year's rates increases included the addition of a transport levy at the 11th hour, which took the average household rates increase to 9.9 per cent.

Mr Brown told the finance and performance committee that having been through a 10-year budget last year and several years of introducing a single rating system for the Super City this budget was about stability and delivering on decisions.

The mayor outlined a capital programme of $1.9 billion in the 2016 financial year that includes a transport programme of $720 million, water and wastewater of $440 million and investment in parks, sport and recreation of $170 million.

The overall rates increase would be 3.2 per cent - but a small drop in the percentage of rates businesses pay will push up the household figure by up to 3.5 per cent - but Mr Brown said he "would like to see this reduced to something close to 2.8 per cent".

"I am not proposing we consult on any further reductions to service levels but I am asking staff continue to scrutinise our costs, particularly those macro issues of inflation and interest rates."

The mayoral proposal will be considered by the governing body next Thursday.

The mayoral proposal will be considered by the governing body next Thursday.