As Tauranga City Council consults on a 12 percent rate rise, its mayor says it's trying to save money

Mahe Drysdale says it would be 20 percent if they don't pass a 27-million dollar savings budget which would see 100 staff cut.

It's also been revealed council perks and staffing cost 128-million dollars a year.

The council's CEO makes 606-thousand dollars a year, that's more than his Wellington and Christchurch counterparts.

Drysdale says he can understand how it looks when such a rates rise is potentially coming.