Wodonga Ratepayers' Association president Ian Deegan said in 2016 he had asked for someone independent to check council’s books but was told it wasn’t warranted.

He vowed not to rest until the local government minister audits Wodonga Council.

“You hit someone in the back pocket, it hurts and when it’s not the right thing it hurts even more,” he said.

“It’s either really creative or really devious accounting. It should be something the council officers should be explaining – they’re the ones who create the budget. 

“I honestly believe the main problem is the staff.

“If they are hiding this sort of thing, what else are they hiding?”

Mr Deegan said he would now formally request the local government minister fully audit Wodonga Council.

Councillor Tim Quilty said the public’s trust in council would be affected, while Cr Libby Hall said more transparency was needed.

“There’s more to come on this I’d say,” she said. “The rates notice and information on council’s website does not accurately describe what the charges are for.”

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Mr Deegan said it was not acceptable that councillors were not fully aware of the issue ahead of last year’s budget.

“We’re not being represented properly, if officers are keeping things from councillors by direction of higher ups on council or higher ups on an officer level, I don’t know, but councillors should be presented with 100 per cent of the facts,” he said.

Council chief executive Patience Harrington denied claims by three councillors they were not fully aware of the issue, saying they were briefed multiple times. 

Cr Quilty said rates might have to rise so there was no net change in revenue.

“We have to reduce the waste charge, the trouble is we rely on the money to fund the budget, so cutting the charge without putting rates up would be a $3-4 million shortfall,” he said. 

When asked if rates would rise Anna Speedie said “that is not what this report is about”. Cr Speedie also said the report does not recommend council get rid of the waste charge.

The report asks council to reduce the charge within three years, so it only recovers reasonable costs of collection and disposal.

Cr Ron Mildren said the surplus funded community services so now the budget would now be a “balancing act” of uncovering money, cuts or diminished services.