Whakatāne District Council have decided on a draft budget for this year's annual plan.
That includes a proposed 11.7% average rates increase, down from the 12.7% that was projected, in year-two of the long-term plan (LTP).
Council said they found potential savings like pausing or rephasing some work programmes and not creating new job positions.
13 job roles were created in year one of the LTP, with another 13 positions set to be created next year.
Chief executive Steven Perdia said the job creation plans are a safety net for Council after the October elections.
Areas at risk from staff shortages include community regulation, finance and legal support and three waters but Council said staff role reductions are not expected to see a loss to levels of service.
Mayor Victor Luca said it's a move in the right direction.
Council decided there will be no full consultation process for the annual plan due to LTP variations not being significant enough and there's no legal requirement to run a full consultation for year two of the LTP.
Councillors will go over the draft annual plan budget next month and is set to be adopted by the end of June.