A pair of incumbent Rotorua district councillors have laid down a challenge to their fellow council candidates to make a public pledge to keep future rates rises under 2 per cent.
Rob Kent, who is also running for mayor of Rotorua, and Mike McVicker say rates revenue collected by the council over the past three years has risen 19 per cent and ratepayers were not getting enough bang for their bucks.
However, the council's financial services manager Paul Sands said rates revenue collected had increased by 13.9 per cent over that time "with variation due to growth in the district and lump sum repayments of capital sewerage rates".
Mr Sands said rates increases over the last three years had been approved by the council at 3 per cent, 7 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.
But, Mr Kent and Mr McVicker said those rates increases were not sufficiently challenged in council and were not justified in their view.