The public is yet to have its say on the whether Tauranga City Council's rates increase will this year be 2 per cent or 6.7 per cent.

The difference is the 4.7 per cent stormwater levy that got approval by a single vote to be included in the Annual Plan discussions at yesterday's council meeting.

The mobile library service is one of the items on the chopping block to raise funds for the Greerton Library.

So far cutting the rate is going to cost the city its mobile library service, and mean an increase of parking wardens in the suburbs.

When the mobile library service was last threatened by council in 2010, it sparked a huge public backlash with the council receiving 171 Annual Plan submissions protesting the move.

The mobile library is being sacrificed to help pay for the Greerton Library.

Speaking after the meeting councillor Matt Cowley says the council needed to find $60,000 for operational expenditure within the library budget or the project wouldn't have got in the plan.

'We explored other options, such as closing all libraries on Sundays or reducing technology support services, but councillors felt access to libraries and information is critically important,” says Matt.

The mobile library costs $104,000 per year to deliver only 2.7 per cent of the total library issues. A lot of people with disabilities cannot climb up onto the bus, says Matt.

'We're keeping $35,000 in the budget to have a home delivery service for those in need, those who can't leave their home.”

Schools that use the mobile library can instead get bulk loans.

Given the other options for finding operational expenditure within the library budget in order to deliver a new Greerton Library, councillors are happy for the community and library users to discuss the trade-off decision - a bigger Greerton Library or a mobile library, says Matt.

'Bang for buck suggests Greerton Library is the way to go, given that we're keeping the home delivery service,” says Matt.

Councillor Catherine Stewart says the proposal to raise money by unleashing more parking wardens, counters the council's stated aims of attracting more people into the city.

TCC transportation manager Martin Parkes says council receives complaints about the city parking bylaws not being enforced outside the city, Mount Maunganui and Greerton business districts.

The traffic department estimates there is enough parking work in the suburbs to pay for additional staff and still make money.

Mayor Stuart Crosby's call for a steady as she goes budget was rebuffed by councillor Steve Morris.

He says it's not a people pleasing budget. Council has been taking four times more than the community is earning.

'The patient is ill,” says Steve.

'The medicine is unpleasant but the patient requires it. This is what financial discipline looks like.”

The 4.7 per cent is intended to set aside $5 million for flood repair works that are said to cost anywhere between $40 million and $200 million.

The opposition says the figures aren't in, the true amount of work and money required is not known and because of the project's possible magnitude, they think it is better discussed as a Ten Year Plan issue.

Those supporting it see the measure as a prudent means of salting away funds from those who benefitted from council decisions that resulted in the mess.

Since they began working on the city finances in December the councillors have managed to trim $11.2 million from the city capital expenditure.

Spreadsheets made public yesterday show the Annual Plan options chosen so far still leave a rates increase of 8.3 per cent.

Staff have been directed to have another look at the figures including the removal of a $1.5 million debt retirement fund. Removing it will reduce rates another 1.3 per cent.

It is a strategy that is close to splitting the council. The decision putting the stormwater levy out for public consultation survived by one vote. Those in favour include Kelvin Clout, Steve Morris, John Robson, Catherine Stewart, Rick Curach, Bill Grainger. Those against are Stuart Crosby, Matt Cowley, Bev Edlin, Clayton Mitchell, Gail McIntosh.

The reviewed figures will be returned to council's final decision on March 14.