The Benambra member said ratepayers should and do expect more from their councils, but mayor Anna Speedie said council had not breached the Local Government Act or acted illegally.

“You don’t expect councils to levy compulsory charges because they are not expressly forbidden from doing so,” Mr Tilley said.

“You also don’t expect them to avoid being up front with their communities because there might be a public backlash.

“We should expect more from elected councillors and the staff they employ.”

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Mr Tilley said Wodonga ratepayers paid almost 50 per cent more in the waste management charge, than was spent directly on waste expenditure. 

He said while council might not have “technically” committed an offence, it was “difficult to see how they acted in the public interest”.

Mr Tilley condemned Wodonga Council’s reaction to the report, which did not acknowledge any wrong doing and maintained council had been transparent.

“Council’s response to the report is simply a collection of excuses and half-baked justifications,” he said.

“In my view it is little more than a failed attempt to distort and misrepresent the facts of this damning report.

“It appears they have learnt nothing from this experience.”

Cr Speedie said all revenue raised by the levy was used for waste-related services.

She said the council had undertaken “extensive community consultation” for the budgets and rating strategy.

Cr Speedie said council would accepted the Ombudsman recommendation and it would occur as part of the annual budget process.

Cr Speedie said the Victorian Auditor-General's Office also investigated the complaint, but “VAGO determined that Council had complied with the Local Government Act and had been transparent with the community.