Hamilton City Council has confirmed an 8% rates increase following its meeting to set the budget for the year.
Council considered 1605 public submissions last month, the most for more than ten years, before settling on the final rates increase. There was no additional financial expenditure approved following the submission process.
Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker says the reality is the city is facing significant financial challenges with falling income through a reduction in building and land development.
"We also need to continue to pay for city infrastructure that has already been built, in many cases to meet the requirements for a growing city.
"We've approved the rate increase but Council realises the rates increases of this size are not sustainable for the community in the longer term" said Hardaker.
Hardaker said it was a difficult decision for Councillors to approve a rate increase in the current wider financial environment.