Auckland Council is being accused of not doing enough to stop a rates increase

Rates are rising by 3.5-percent so most council services can continue as usual.

The emergency budget also includes the reduction of 500 jobs and the sale of more than 200-million in assets.

But Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett says it's not nearly enough, and ratepayers shouldn't have to foot the difference.

He says businesses are finding it to difficult to survive, and to push more costs on them now is outrageous.