THE Mayor of Wakool Shire Council has defended a decision to raise rates by seven percent, despite community opposition to the proposal.

At their monthly meeting in Bahram on Wednesday, councillors voted to make an application for a special rate variation of seven per cent in 2015/16.

This figure includes the predetermined rate peg of 2.4 percent.

At Wednesday's meeting, councillors considered four options -- including a 14 percent increase spread over two years and a 20 percent rise over three -- before settling on the seven percent increase.

It will only apply for one year, before returning to the normal increases.

Mayor Neil Gorey said the rise would not leave council with cash to spare.

For more on this story see today's edition of the Guardian (23.01.15)