Concern Wellington City Council might not have the cash to fund repairs to the town hall, and insurance

The quake-prone building, which is getting a fix-up, faces a budget blowout of up to 70 to 147 million dollars -- on top of the current 182 million dollar cost.

This would make it the fifth cost blowout for the project.

Councillor Ray Chung is asking questions around the time frame, and how costs keep going up.

He says an increase was given last year, and he wonders why the cost has potentially nearly doubled in a year.