Auckland Mayor Phil Goff will release the first draft of a new 10-year budget today, which could include a proposed rates rise of more than 3.5 per cent next year and water bills rising by 8 per cent.
This would add about $80 a year to the average water bill of $996.
Last week, Goff told the Herald his preference is to hold rates to his election promise of 3.5 per cent, but the impact of Covid-19, creaking infrastructure and population growth could hamper this.
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Earlier this month, Goff said the $450 million hole in this year's "emergency budget" could continue to hammer the council's finances by a further $540m over the next three years.