Tauranga residents will be stung with a 12.6 percent rates rise the mayor says is essential because the fastest growing city in the country has fallen far behind on infrastructure spending.
The council's policy committee voted yesterday 6 to 5 for the increase, which is still subject to public consultation.
Mayor Tenby Powell told RNZ reporter Andrew McRae the rise is desperately needed as the city has fallen behind in funding growth, something he puts down to an abject lack of courage in the past.
