Councillor Tony Driscoll said the rise, included in the 2015-16 budget, was a fair and appropriate allocation of council resources.

"The reality was we had to raise $15 million," he said.

"We don't want to put rates up but we need to to provide services to our community.''

Councillors Karen Hyslop and Wayne Rice both voted against adopting the budget due to the five per cent rise.

The budget also includes municipality charges.

Cr Rice said rates needed to be realistic to what shire residents could afford.

"Our first consideration should be ratepayers and I can't accept this budget," he said.

Cr Hyslop said a four per cent rate rise would have been more appropriate for the shire.

"I think we can cut a little bit more if we really wanted to," she said.

"Our shire is in a drought and I don't see how raising rates by five per cent will stimulate the economy."

Cr Merrilee Reid said the rate increase was fair.

"We're struggling, as all councils are," she said.

"We try to give as many services as we can in our shire. To continue to do this we need to have that rate rise."

Council has allocated $8.6 million to capital works and $5.9 million for council infrastructure maintenance.

Children's services, aged care, recreation, leisure and libraries will receive $3.9 million.

Council will spend $5.9 million on roads and bridges in the shire.

Council adopted the budget at a special meeting on Monday with a vote of four to two.

Cr Kevin Erwin was not present at the meeting.

Council also adopted its revised council plan for 2013-17 and its Strategic Resource Plan for 2015-19 at Monday's meeting.