The Dunedin City Council’s 2026-27 annual plan and associated rates rise was adopted with a 9-6 vote at Thursday’s meeting.
The plan was described as one developed at a time of significant change for local government and ahead of a challenging long-term plan process.
Cr Brent Weatherall said his position had not changed since councillors voted on the draft annual plan last month — they had failed to display the restraint he believed many ratepayers expected, he said.
‘‘I sincerely hope the projects and services contained within this plan deliver value for our community.
‘‘However, I believe we missed an opportunity to send a stronger signal that affordability and financial discipline remain at the forefront of our decision-making.’’
The council consulted on a rates increase of 10.5%, trimmed to 8.8% following staff input.
This rose to a final figure of 8.9% following deliberations on the draft plan, which was approved in an identical 9-6 vote.
The overall rates rise comprised a Three Waters increase of 16.7% and a non-water component increase of 4.3%.
Debt was forecast to increase to $785.8 million.
The capital expenditure budget included a $12m ‘‘timing adjustment’’ to the non-waters programme, reducing the capital expenditure budget from $210m to about $198m.
‘‘That’s responsible budgeting. It’s no good promising work on paper if we cannot deliver it in practice,’’ Ms Barker said.
‘‘This plan reflects what we said we would do when we consulted extensively with the community last year during the long-term plan, while also responding to the economic conditions in front of us now, which have changed throughout the year.’’
She acknowledged the stress rates rises caused for residents and said it was a ‘‘timely reminder’’ of the government’s rates rebate scheme.
Councillors debated removing or deferring several projects from the plan’s draft capital expenditure programme but, in a series of close votes last month, approved none.
On Thursday, many around the council table thanked staff for their efforts to find opportunities for savings — Cr Andrew Simms said elected members should have followed their lead.
‘‘The problem that I see here is that staff attempted to tighten their belt and the elected members let it out again.’’
Cr Lee Vandervis said he could not bring himself to vote for the ‘‘unaffordable and unsustainable’’ annual plan and criticised the council’s previous cycleways and playground spending.
Cr Mickey Treadwell said such funding, which benefited Dunedin’s parents and young people, frequently came under attack.
This demographic was often underserved by the council but ‘‘very consistently targeted in our criticisms of spending’’, he said.
Cr Treadwell noted the council had a legislative requirement to adopt an annual plan before July 1.
Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas thanked him for the reminder.
‘‘We had plenty of opportunity to do our speeches and reduce the budget, and now’s not the time to grandstand on that,’’ she told councillors.
Some ‘‘serious soul-searching to cut the budget’’ would be required in the coming year as the council developed its 10-year plan, Cr Lucas said.
The vote
That the council adopts the 2026-27 annual plan.
For (9): Mayor Sophie Barker, Crs John Chambers, Christine Garey, Doug Hall, Marie Laufiso, Cherry Lucas, Mandy Mayhem, Mickey Treadwell and Steve Walker.
Against (6): Crs Jo Galer, Russell Lund, Benedict Ong, Andrew Simms, Lee Vandervis and Brent Weatherall.
