Tauranga's mayor is hoping some of the public have suggestions of how the council can balance its books. 

A Government-imposed rates cap means, from 2028, councils will only be allowed to increase rates 4 percent at most. 

Tauranga Council is forecasting a 5 to 11 percent annual rise.

Mayor Mahe Drysdale says it's already cut $38 million, but it isn't sure where more to cut. 

"The big items are things like depreciation, interest - if you build infrastructure and you borrow money, those costs effectively just come out the next year."

LISTEN ABOVE