City councillors were evacuated from the civic centre this morning during their first day of annual plan deliberations.

It was a planned trial evacuation involving firefighters from the central Dunedin station, who responded at 11am.

The council's going through its proposed budgets for the next financial year, following extensive community consultation.

Councillors are deciding how best to allocate funds based on demand while trying to keep general rates below 3%.

The deliberations are due to take several days.

Just over 600 submissions were lodged on the plan.

Cycleway development was the most popular topic among submitters.