Aucklanders have seven weeks to provide feedback on a draft 10-year budget that, according to Mayor Len Brown, includes some of the biggest decisions on Auckland's future.
Big rates increases for households and the prospect of motorway tolls or a fuel tax to avoid the city's transport arteries suffering severe congestion form a big part of the controversial budget.
The draft budget proposes an average rates rise of 3.5 per cent a year, but new revaluations and lowering of business rates will lead to higher rates for households. Household rates will rise on average by 5.6 per cent next year and 4.5 per cent thereafter.
About 126,000 households - more than one in four - face rate increases of more than 10 per cent this year, 25,000 households face increases of more than 20 per cent and 3738 households face 40 per cent-plus increases. About 160,000 ratepayers will pay less.
Watercare is proposing to raise water charges by 2.5 per cent for the next two years and 3.6 per cent a year thereafter.
