Proposal, largely achieved by cutting costs behind the scenes, receives qualified praise from opponents. Auckland Mayor Len Brown is proposing a rates rise of between 1.9 per cent and 2.9 per cent in next year's election-year budget. Mr Brown said he was not giving any thought to next year's election, but stressed he had the "bit between the teeth" to get the rates increase nearer 2 per cent. With inflation falling and the economy stuck in the doldrums, Mr Brown has managed to achieve his lowest rates increase in three years largely through a number of "rats and mice" savings and efficiencies. Rates rose 3.6 per cent this year and 3.9 per cent in his first budget. The mayor has no plans to...
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