A resident has called on Baw Baw Shire councillors to "show us your hearts" and overturn a decision to phase out the $50 pensioner rebate over the next two years.
Roy Lindsay told Wednesday's meeting that the "miserly" rates rebate should be increased, not eliminated, to assist those doing it tough.
He said the decision would save $118,000, equating to a mere 0.5 per cent of the forecast surplus or 0.008 per cent of the forecast rates revenue.
"The proposal to scrap the strictly controlled pensioner rebate of $50 per annum is both heartless and embarrassing," Mr Lindsay said, describing it as "a quick and ongoing money grab from the very ratepayers who are most likely to be in the lowest income sector".
The draft budget proposes to cut the pensioner rebate from $50 to $25 in 2025/26, before cutting it entirely in 2026/27.
Shire interim chief financial officer Matt Hubbard said the decision would impact about 4000 eligible pensioners in the shire.
Cr Danny Goss said Baw Baw was one of only two councils across Victoria to offer the rebate and had been provided in addition to a concession offered by the state government.
"It's disappointing but, in the end, it's one of those things we had to do to make this budget balance," Cr Goss said.
He said council had considered both long-term financial sustainability and best practice in making its decision to scale back the rebate for eligible pensioners.
However, Mr Lindsay said eligible pensioners were means and assets tested by Centrelink to determine they had insufficient natural income to live a comfortable life without subsidy.
"There is no listed justification (in draft budget papers) other than council is not mandated to provide any additional rebates," he said.
Mr Lindsay said he would gladly offer his services to find double the $118,000 savings in the budget, highlighting the gender equity manager, CASBE membership, community panel and additional employee costs as possible areas for savings.