Wellington homeowners face a likely rates rise of about 6%.
Wellington City Council has been deciding what projects it can and cannot afford as part of its draft annual plan.
One that has already been voted down is a $600,000 feasibility study into the building of an extra pool at the city's aquatic centre.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says the council has made good attempts at keeping rates low.
She says the council's debt of about $300 million is lower than forecast.
But Ms Wade-Brown says the council has to be careful with its finances, because there is big expenditure ahead on earthquake preparedness and leaky homes.
