Tauranga City Council has adopted the Annual Plan for 2017/18, with one change since deliberations.

Following a notice of motion, further discussions in council chambers this morning resulted in the council agreeing to provide up to $4 million funding towards a new Visitor Information Centre in Mount Maunganui.

This is consistent with the funding consulted on in the draft Annual Plan, which had been reduced to $2.5 million through deliberations.

The final Annual Plan provides increased capital and operational budget to provide for the city's fast-paced growth, which has increased from the Long Term Plan forecast of 1.7 per cent to 3.1 per cent for 2017/18.

The 2017/18 budget translates to a 3.8 per cent average rates increase and net debt at $442 million.

Tauranga's rapid population growth has resulted in an increase in required infrastructure investment in the last two years, and more resources have been required to service the demands of a growing population.

In this time of growth, the council will be investing more in the community, both through capital expenditure to build assets, and by supporting other organisations through grants for them to invest in assets for the community (e.g. Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club, Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service and Bay Oval Trust).

Tauranga City Council also increased expenditure in key areas of service provision such as building services (which is offset by increased revenue), events and libraries as well as support for community organisations and groups.

Today the council also adopted the Development Contributions Policy and user fees and charges for 2017/18.

The full Annual Plan 2017/18, including a summary of key decisions made through consultation and deliberations, updated user fees and charges schedule, and Development Contributions Policy, will be made available on the council's website and in service centres in the coming week.