Invercargill City Council (ICC) will consider decreasing a proposed rates rise, from 7.78 per cent to 7.15 percent, following feedback from the community. 

The initial increase had been originally forecast in the council’s draft Annual Plan. 

ICC Performance Policy and Partnership Committee Chair councillor Darren Ludlow said the council had heard concerns raised by members of the public around the rising cost of living during the draft Annual Plan consultation period. 

“We've heard the community, we know cost of living is rising and we will consider all of our options to try and bring that cost down if we can.”

“We are balancing our rates and our debt affordability. Deliberations will centre on the possibility of decreasing further some of council's operational or capital expenditure.” 

Deliberations will take place at the ICC Performance Policy and Partnership committee meeting on Tuesday at 3pm, where a report outlining options for further reducing the rates increase will be presented.

Meanwhile Southland District Council have settled on a 9.22% rates increase for the 2022-23 year, while Environment Southland has capped their rates increase to 5%.