The scheme, which funds off-peak travel for retirement-aged people, is under review after Government raised concerns about its cost.
"It was a blatant . . . to buy votes, so tough bickies, boys - pay up," Cr Woodhead said at the council's finance and corporate committee last week.
Chairman Stephen Cairns said the scheme itself was fine, despite the way it was introduced, and the council needed to ensure "people in our community and those who qualify get their fair share".
Regional council staff had warned the Government the initial $80 million funding was never going to be enough, he said.
It had been estimated there were 540,000 cardholders nationally, with the scheme cost estimated at about $22 million in 2010-11 and closer to $25 million for 2011-12.
Corporate services director Wayne Scott said the council wanted to ensure funding continued to come from the Ministry of Social Development, not the transport budget.
The discussion document outlined changes including reducing the reimbursement rate to operators for each trip, capping reimbursement payments and changing the eligibility of services.
Councillors supported making a submission to the New Zealand Transport Agency on the review noting the $18 million should be adjusted annually in relation to the increase in card projections, that special high cost services such as the Waiheke Ferry trip be omitted or cost-capped.
