The Christchurch mayor says the council is looking down the barrel of an 18 percent rates increase if it does not make some major cost savings.
The City Council is working on its ten-year-plan, and mayor Phil Mauger says the plan has started out with a proposed 18 percent rates increase.
Many councils around the country are also facing cost pressures.
Selwyn mayor and Local Government New Zealand president Sam Broughton spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
