In response to changes to the Local Government Act, the council adopted a community engagement policy in March which eliminated the need to call a special meeting to hear submissions.

The special meeting forum had been used in 2019 by Wodonga Football-Netball Club to secure funding for urgent repairs to the Martin Park netball court.

Council briefing sessions are off-limits to public and media.

But other local councils are still holding special meetings to hear budget submissions with Indigo Shire conducting one this week.

"Previous budgets were developed under the section 223 process outlined in the Local Government Act 1989," a Wodonga Council spokesperson said.

"Under transitional arrangements to the Local Government Act 2020, section 223 no longer applies.

"Under the 2020 Act, councils were required to adopt a community engagement policy by March 1, 2021 and the policy would then apply in the development of, among other items, the draft budget.

"All formal submissions will form part of the budget papers presented to the council meeting on June 28.

"Council can still hear from a submitter, should they choose to do so, at a councillor briefing or other forum."

IN OTHER NEWS

Mr Mitchell previously worked in the council's finance department and his whistleblower actions led in part to the Victorian Ombudsman's damning findings in relation to the council's waste management levy.

In 2018, Ombudsman Deborah Glass found the council had over-charged ratepayers $18 million for a decade.

In another report from the Ombudsman released this year, Wodonga ratepayers were found to be shouldering a significant burden in bankrolling the council's operations.

Forecast revenue from rates and charges dips below 70 per cent in 2021-22, but is projected to return above 70 per cent in coming financial years, according to its own budget papers.

"Wodonga Council management has become addicted to generating significant income from ratepayers," Mr Mitchell said.

"This coming year rate payers will be funding 69 per cent of total (recurrent) revenue.

"Wodonga council will continue to increase this burden to almost 74 per cent in several years.

"Wodonga has considerable economic advantages over other councils, but senior management fails to deliver reasonable rates and capitalise on the advantages of its relatively small council footprint, large economic contractor, supplier base and relatively new low maintenance infrastructure."

Wodonga's 2020-21 draft budget was adopted on casting vote of mayor Kevin Poulton when three councillors attempted to postpone debate on it claiming they had been afforded insufficient input due to changes to the Local Government Act.

Following the waste management levy controversy council planned to open up briefing sessions before back-tracking on the move.

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