Some Auckland City councillors are critical of small savings earmarked for its communications department, while severe cuts are made elsewhere to keep rates increases down.
A saving of $400,000 is projected for the department by reducing staff levels and its reliance on printed communication material.
On Tuesday, councillors debated multimillion-dollar cuts to services such as storm water funding, footpaths, road safety and water monitoring.
Between $10 million and $12 million a year is spent on communications, marketing and research. The cut amounts to about 3%.
Councillor Richard Northey says more could be trimmed and the money spent elsewhere. He believes $1 million should have been slashed from communications.
About $250,000 of savings have been made so far, according to the council.
