The Dunedin City Council has decided to fund the City Safety Programme, despite Mayor Dave Cull's ''resentment'' at having to do so.
The decision came after central government signalled it would no longer support the programme, which paid for city safety officers, from July 1.
The withdrawal prompted Cr David Benson-Pope to suggest the council add $40,000 a year to its books to support the programme.
Councillors voted in favour of the move, but not before Cr Benson-Pope and Mr Cull expressed their resentment at the Government's decision to pull out after partnering with local authorities to launch the scheme.
Mr Cull said it was another example of central government creating costs for councils in a non-core activity and driving up rates, while at the same time criticising councils for involvement in other non-core areas.
Mr Cull was ''extremely reluctant'' to support the allocation of $40,000 a year to continue the programme, but the community's safety would be eroded if the council walked away.
''It's our community that pays the price if we don't,'' he said.
