MAYOR Peter Blundell is challenging councillors to work as part of a team to help the Southern Downs Regional Council reach a financially stable future.

Following an inaccurate article that appeared in the Southern Free Times, Cr Blundell said council had made the hard decision.

"The 2013/14 budget predicted a deficit at the end of the last financial year of $2.5 million," he said.

"We will also receive $500,000 less from our financial assistance grants and other federal funding.

"The 2014/15 budget has been extremely difficult."

Cr Blundell said statements made by other councillors that no administrative savings had been found were simply incorrect.

"We have cut administration costs significantly to assist in finding this $3 million," he said.

"At the same time, we have had to absorb increases in the areas of employee costs, electricity and general material costs.

"Councillors may very well have voted against the budget, our first surplus budget, but once the decision has been made, it is the decision of council as a whole."

Cr Blundell said he had often not supported some decisions made by council.

"However when the decision is final we move forward to make it happen," he said.

"We as a council will continue to review our core services over the next six months and we will deliver another tighter budget next year.

"I'd like to see the councillors work together - and that means all councillors should be attending briefings and meetings."