However, a move by Cr Jim Hopkins to get budgets cut even further - resulting in close to no rise - was supported by only Cr Rod Bidois.
Cr Hopkins unsuccessfully moved the budgets for the Forrester Gallery, libraries, economic development, forestry, vehicles, Oamaru Public Gardens, parks reserves and beautification and district planning all be capped at this year's figures, saving about $200,000.
The two most contentious issues were increasing staff by adding a business analyst to the financial services unit at a cost of $77,000 and closing four public toilets with a saving of $48,256.
Cr Hopkins expected a heated debate from the community over closing toilets and questioned whether that might focus on only those specifically identified - the Oamaru Gardens, lower Thames St, Severn St and Awamoa Park toilets.
He wanted to hear alternatives from the community.
Some councillors, while supporting the concept, said they had issues in relation to which toilets should be closed.
A final decision on closing the toilets will not be made until June.
Extra staff in the business unit was to cope with a growing workload, including accounting requirements from the Government, which had resulted in 133 days of holiday leave being owed to three staff in the unit.
Financial services manager Stephen Halliwell said the level of service from the unit had eroded over the past three to four years.
He warned "things may not happen" if staff numbers were not increased.
But Cr Bidois was astounded by the proposal, saying, if necessary, an existing council employee should be seconded to the unit.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton was not at the meeting but, in a message read to councillors, said he would not accept a rate increase above the 2% inflation, or increases in staff.
Cr Bidois said in the past five years the council had spent thousands of dollars on new information technology to improve efficiency and productivity.
During that time, staff had increased from 84 full-time equivalents to 105.
Cr Peter Twiss said the upfront cost of $77,000 may seem large, but savings would more than compensate.
Cr Alistair Mavor supported the proposal going out in the draft annual plan.
The proposal to employ an extra staff member was rejected by five votes to four.
The council's long-term community plan had predicted a rates rise of 5.86% for the 2010-11 financial year.
Two workshops by councillors reduced that to 4.09%.
Yesterday's meeting reduced that further to 1.8%, which will go to a council meeting next month for approval as part of the draft plan.
That includes a 2.6% rise in depreciation, funded from rates because of an increase in the valuation of some council assets.
Next year, the council will collect $24.191 million in rates, compared with $23.762 million this financial year.
The draft annual plan will come back to council on March 10 for a final debate, but not major changes.
It will go out for consultation from March 23 to April 23, with council hearing submissions on May 12 and 13 and a final decision by June 30.
