In this long-term plan we want your feedback on more than just our proposed budget (see Our central proposal for the Long-term Plan 2024-2034).

There are alternatives to our central proposal. We could do more or do less than what is proposed, which would mean either more or fewer activities and services for Auckland.

There are also options and trade-offs for how we fund our activities and services, such as creating an investment fund (the Auckland Future Fund).

When we talk about trade-offs, we mean giving up or getting less of one thing in exchange for another - paying more to get more, or paying less and getting less.

We want to know if you think we should:

  • make do with what we have and provide more spending where it is needed most (our central proposal)
  • do more and pay more
  • do less and pay less.

Decorative image of a man wearing a shirt that says central and holding a small bag in one hand labelled less and a larger bag in the other had labelled more.

Central proposal

Under our central proposal the annual rates increase for the average-value residential property is set at:

  • 7.5 per cent in year one
  • 3.5 per cent in year two
  • eight per cent in year three
  • no more than 3.5 per cent for the years after that (which is 1.5 percent above Consumers Price Index inflation, currently forecast at 2 per cent).

Pay less and get less

A pay less, get less scenario would stop or reduce some council activities and services and slow down improvements to others.

Paying less to get less could also limit average rates increases for residential ratepayers to:

  • 5.5 per cent in year one
  • 3.5 per cent in year two
  • 3.5 per cent in year three
  • no more than 3 per cent for the years after that (being 1.0 percent above the Consumers Price Index inflation, currently forecast at 2 per cent).

Pay more and get more

A pay more, get more scenario would significantly increase council activities and services, and speed up the delivery of improvements and projects we invest in.

Paying more to get more could also see average rates increases for residential ratepayers rise by up to:

  • 14 per cent in year one
  • 10 per cent in year two
  • 10 per cent in year three
  • 5 per cent for the years after that.

This includes speeding up investment in transport services and climate resilience.

Options and trade-offs for council services and activities

We provide an outline of trade-off options in seven areas of council-funded services and activities.

For each area we explain the level of service you can expect to receive from our central proposal, and the level of service you can expect from the different options and trade-offs (pay more and get more, or pay less and get less).

Click on the link to each council service area to find out more.

The areas are:

You should know

The information on this page is an edited version of the proposed Long-term Plan 2024-2034 Consultation Document.

For more information about our options and trade-offs, see pages 24-27 of the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 Consultation Document [PDF 17MB].