Simon Mathew Williams might now face full-time jail over the $16,589 deception, committed over 18 months from mid-2015.

The 44-year-old's lawyer submitted to Albury Local Court on Friday that a community corrections order with a community service component might be just punishment.

Magistrate Rodney Brender said the threshold for jail appeared to have been crossed, but he wanted until next Friday to carefully consider Williams's case.

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The court heard Williams was one of several people who had been charged in relation to deceptions committed against the land council.

Williams was the first one to plead guilty, with the others soon after following suit.

Late last month, another of the accused, Patricia Lee Stewart, had her case adjourned to Monday to provide time, defence solicitor Sascha McCorriston said, to establish evidence that could be led in a hearing of her case.

While Stewart's charge of dishonestly obtaining property by deception was for an alleged amount of about $79,000, she claimed about $12,500 of that was for purchases approved by the council.

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In the case of Williams, the court heard that about $22,000 of land council cash was directed into his personal account, though he was entitled to only about $6000.

Defence solicitor Morgan Jones said Williams had matters involving violence and driving offences on his record, but nothing for dishonesty.

He had never before held a position on a board and had not wanted to become the council's chair, only agreeing "reluctantly ... on the suggestion of his peers".

"It appears he did not have a great deal of money in his account at any one time. He was in casual employment and he was struggling financially," Mr Jones said.

Since the offending - from July 28, 2015, to January 13, 2017 - Williams had gained full-time work.