Auckland’s Mayor Phil Goff admits the council and Government have failed to keep on top of the city’s homelessness problem.
Mr Goff has presented his annual wish list to councillors for how he wishes to see ratepayers' money spent next year.
He has confirmed rates will rise by 2.5 per cent.
The 2019 Budget will deliver on transport, housing and the environment, Mr Goff told reporters.
It includes the largest ever spend on transport for the city of $1.2 billion.
And a $5 million gift will be made to the Auckland City Mission to help with the $90 million construction of its new facilities.
Mr Goff says it’s "difficult to walk through the city without seeing the massive growth of homelessness".
He says while the council has housed 1700 people in 18 months he’s "not satisfied we’re on top of the problem".
Other investments in the budget include another $200,000 towards fighting illegal dumping, and all council staff to be paid a living wage from September 2019.
The budget still needs to be signed off by councillors.
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