CASEY Council was to last night consider a recommended rate increase of 6.5 per cent for the City of Casey.

Casey finance manager Veronica Hickin said in an agenda report to the meeting that the draft budget assumed the increase would be 6.5 per cent, but some councillors were believed to be aiming to reduce this to six per cent.

The council needs to cover a perceived cost increase of about 9.3 per cent with inflation at 3.3 per cent, growth at four per cent, and the impact of building the Cranbourne Aquatic centre at two per cent.

Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland said, however, that he believed with tight and responsible management the council could minimise the increase.

He said it would use a system of financing its loan for the Cranbourne Aquatic Centre from the capital works reserves, which were normally held in limbo until needed.

The council would pay itself interest back into the account.

He said the aquatic centre would also have a water capture system to make itself sustainable and it was hoped its success with Casey ARC at Narre Warren would be favourably considered for a Federal Government grant toward the cost of building the new centre.

Cardinia Shire Council has proposed an average seven per cent rate rise.