THE Deputy Mayor has declared the 2015/2016 Southern Downs Regional Council budget a "smoke and mirrors" document - as one of three councillors to voice strong objections to the financial plan.

The budget passed six votes to three, with Deputy Mayor Cr Ross Bartley, Cr Vic Pennisi and Cr Jamie Mackenzie voting against.

Following the vote, Cr Bartley and Cr Mackenzie stood up to give passionate statements of objection to their fellow councillors.

An earlier vote to bring yesterday's short budget deliberations into an open meeting was also lost by the three councillors.

Cr Bartley said he believed the rate rise was equivalent to a 10% increase given the increase in water and sewerage charges and the 10% discount not being put back in place.

"I believe the current council has lost sight of one of the most important and fundamental requirements when considering what level of increase to impose on our region, and that is the population's capacity to pay," he said.

"This budget is what I call a smoke and mirrors budget as I can identify many anomalies and presumptions.

"As a council we need to produce more efficiencies within our organisation so that people can afford to live and work in our region."

Cr Bartley pointed to the plant replacement program as an item with "plenty of meat left".

He also stated his belief that committing funding for Destination Southern Downs demonstrated "a lack of good governance".

Also pointing to concerns of ratepayers' "capacity to pay", Cr Mackenzie slammed what he declared as an "unsustainable" budget.

Cr Mackenzie said he voted against the budget because he believed large rate rises without cutting expenses were not the answer.

"Without cuts, this budget is the 'same old, same old' and it will therefore not get my support," he said.

"It seems every year that we keep raising rates by reducing discounts."

There were fiery exchanges between the Mayor and Cr Mackenzie after the vote when Cr Blundell stood up to address the councillors' comments.

"I've given you and the Deputy Mayor leniency in letting you make your statements. These are inaccurate statements at the lowest level."

Following the meeting, Cr Blundell swiftly moved to clarify what he described as "horrendous" and "inappropriate" comments from the councillors.

"It's very easy to stand up and say it's (the budget's) too tough," he said.

"There's no parliamentary privilege in the chamber and councillors need to be accountable for what they say."