20 May 2014

Dunedin council rates to rise 3 percent

10:31 pm on 20 May 2014

Council rates in Dunedin are going up by 3 percent next year.

The Dunedin City Council confirmed the decision at the end of two weeks of hearings on the annual plan.

The increases are on a decreasing track, as council rates rose 4 percent last year and 4.9 percent the year in 2012.

But the council is under ongoing financial pressure because of the city's new stadium, which is now costing it more than $9 million a year.

This year city councillors agreed to fund a small number of extra spending initiatives, but deferred most new capital projects including a new library complex for South Dunedin.