Ms Butler, presenting Stop the Stadium's submission, struck a defiant tone as she vowed to continue the group's opposition.
However, she drew the ire of several councillors by challenging the city's pro-stadium councillors to give $1000 of their own money to the Otago Community Hospice for every $1 million the stadium's cost increased.
"Are there any takers in this challenge?" she asked.
Momentary silence followed, until an angry Cr Michael Guest broke with the rules of the hearing to interject, labelling the challenge "a cheap stunt".
Cr Paul Hudson also took exception at the "ridiculous" challenge, saying: "I think some of us give a lot more than that to the hospice."
Mayor Peter Chin then interjected, asking Mrs Butler to continue her submission while reminding councillors they were required to listen in silence and only ask questions at the end.
The exchange came after Ms Butler said she had overcome initial "despondency" over the signing of the stadium's construction contract, and was pressing ahead with a rates protest.
She paid her quarterly rates bill yesterday, before the hearing, but withheld $16.50.
Over a year that would equate to the $66 average rates bill expected to cover the cost of the stadium.
That prompted Cr Richard Walls to questioned whether she had withheld too much, saying this year's average rates bill associated with the stadium was only $33.
Based on that, she should only have deducted $8.25, and "you're a maths teacher", he said.
Cr Guest also challenged the legality of the rates protest, saying the council could write to the banks of those who withheld rates and had a mortgage, compelling the banks to pay the outstanding amount.
Banks would then pursue the matter with their customers, potentially putting their mortgages at risk.
Ms Butler scoffed at "exaggerated" suggestions a small additional cost could threaten a mortgage, but added: "If people do end up getting a legal letter or threatening letter . . . our advice has, and always will be, to not put themselves at any risk."
Earlier yesterday, an angry Seacliff builder, Rudie Verhoef, said he wanted to see councillors and ask why they did not delay signing the stadium contract until after the consultation process.
"The majority of you have acted like playground bullies."
Neil Peacock argued the city was putting money into facilities with historic value, like the Chinese Garden and the walkway beneath the Wall Street mall.
Carisbrook should be retained for the same reasons.
Dr Shef Rogers, a senior English lecturer at the University of Otago, said he had received a 4% increase in his salary, something he did not expect to continue, but the proposed rate increases were triple any salary rise he would receive.
Dunedin woman Jane Bruce urged councillors to come up with an "exit strategy" from its stadium commitment, which "must be the country's most expensive job creation scheme".
