Invercargill City Councillors are set to consider a change to the proposed rates increase following feedback from the community.

While a rates increase of 7.78 per cent had been originally forecast in the Council’s draft Annual Plan, it has been revised to a 7.15 per cent increase.

A report outlining options for further reducing the rates increase will be presented to Council on Tuesday.

Performance Policy and Partnership Committee Chair Councillor Darren Ludlow said Council had heard concerns raised by members of the public around the rising cost of living during the draft Annual Plan consultation period.

“We’ve heard the community, we know cost of living is rising and we will consider all of our options to try and bring that cost down if we can.

“We are balancing our rates and our debt affordability. Deliberations will centre on the possibility of decreasing further some of Council’s operational or capital expenditure.”

Deliberations will take place at the Council Performance Policy and Partnership committee meeting on Tuesday at 3pm.