They debated removing or deferring several projects in the 2026-27 draft annual plan capital expenditure programme.
The Peninsula Connection survived.
Changes in Princes St to create a better corridor for buses and pedestrians were not deferred.
Further work on enhancing the harbour arterial route was not shelved.
Investment to improve energy efficiency at the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum stayed in the plan.
After a series of debates yesterday, the Dunedin City Council’s capital budget was still more than $210m, but it had no intention of actually delivering this scale of work.
In the end, the quantum was simply reduced by $12m and the can was kicked down the road for determining precisely which projects would be affected by timing delays.
The proposed rates increase also edged higher.
The council had consulted on an increase of 10.5% and this was pruned to 8.8% after input from staff.
Councillors decided to freeze a planned rent rise for community housing tenants, foregoing income of $507,000.
The result from this, as well as the decision to bring capital spending under $200m, was the rates rise increased to 8.9%.
Several councillors had begun the day thanking staff for their efforts and noting planned dividends from Dunedin City Holdings were helpful.
They raised subjects such as the possibility of council mergers and that a rates cap imposed by the government was likely looming.
Cr Brent Weatherall urged spending restraint.
The council needed to tighten its belt or belt-tightening would be imposed, he said.
Cr Jo Galer did not believe the council had gone far enough to find savings.
Cr Russell Lund said structural changes were needed, instead of tinkering around the edges.
He noted staff had earlier in the year presented ideas at a closed workshop for cost savings, but they were ‘‘ignored by the people around this table’’.
He also advocated for staff cuts, including of the council’s zero-carbon team.
Cr Marie Laufiso said it was callous to talk about getting rid of staff.
Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker said it was ‘‘particularly egregious to talk about staff at this time’’.
Regarding discussions about potential council amalgamations, Ms Barker said the council first needed to concentrate on getting itself into a good position.
She also said the Otago Mayoral Forum had agreed to work on producing options and to fund this work jointly.
Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas took issue with the suggestion of structural changes at the 11th hour.
‘‘You have had months, governors,’’ she said.
Cr Steve Walker said the aim was to balance affordability with moving the city forward.
He warned against cuts for the sake of cuts.
Cr Christine Garey said a steady course was needed, while maintaining momentum.
An 8% rise had been proposed.
Cr Treadwell said a nil increase was the right thing to do in the existing economic environment.
The move put the council further out of kilter with its revenue and financing policy, increasing the proportion of rates subsidy for the community housing portfolio.
Cr Vandervis was one person who said tenants were paying less than half of market rents.
Cr Galer led a last-minute effort to bring in a compromise of a 4% rental rise in community housing, but this was voted down.
