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Otago ratepayers will face a significant rates rise next year.
But by how much is yet to be publicly confirmed.
In its draft long-term plan 2021-31, the Otago Regional Council proposed a hefty rates rise to pay for its more intense workload, including a general rates rise of 73.2% for next year.
Following deliberations over public feedback, councillors voted in favour of a rates rise yesterday, rather than dipping into council reserves to offset the costs.
The original proposal for the rates rise was for targeted rates to increase by 29.3% in 2021-22, general rates to rise by 73.2%, and total rates to rise by 47.5% next year.
However, there is a chance those figures could change if councillors make any further changes to the draft long-term plan before it is signed off next month.
Most councillors were in support of a rates rise yesterday.
Cr Bryan Scott said it was not "good faith" to defer the impact of the need for increased spending.
"The future will have its own challenges."
But Cr Michael Laws felt it was more fair to ratepayers to offset the rates rise by using the council’s general reserves.
Cr Carmen Hope also voted against the rates rise.