DEBT-RIDDEN Causeway Coast and Glens council should undergo a full audit of its finances, an independent councillor has said after it voted through an inflation-busting domestic rate increase of 7.65 per cent.
The hike - the highest in several decades - comes after it was revealed the council was £68.7 million in arrears.
Councillors agreed to effectively freeze business rates at a meeting on Thursday but passed the increase for householders.
A council spokesman said the rates rise was "in line with an efficiency programme which will deliver savings of £2.5m and supported by an independent review of council finances".
He said the council's most recent audited accounts in March last year show its borrowing is at £71.1m.
"Council remains committed to providing a quality service to its ratepayers despite growing budgetary pressures and over the last four years, has applied minimal rates rises which have been the lowest across Northern Ireland."
He added that when the council was formed in 2015, following an amalgamation of four local authorities, it inherited borrowing debt of £72.8m.
On Wednesday, the council agreed to make cuts totalling £2.2m.
This includes removing funding for Portrush Air Show, which will not be held this year.
Proposals for further cuts include changing black bin collections from fortnightly to monthly and closing Waterworld family centre in Portrush.
A spokesman for the Audit Office said it had met "various political representatives regarding Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and is working with the Department for Communities in seeking additional information on the financial position".
Independent councillor Padraig McShane described the rates increase as "wholly irresponsible".
"It has attached incredibly high risk when factored alongside our prudential indicators," he said.
Mr McShane proposed that the council place a moratorium on all major financial decisions until a full forensic audit is completed. However, a majority of councillors rejected the suggestion.
Ulster Unionist councillor Richard Holmes said the increase is the "best result that could be achieved".
"Tough decisions have had to be taken to reduce costs and raise additional income which we know will not be popular. But we must ensure council services continue to be delivered," he said.
"Causeway Coast and Glens has significant debt of £69m but is by no means the most indebted council in Northern Ireland. Reserves are within guidelines and even after this significant rates increase we still have one of the lowest rates increases since the 2015 council amalgamation across Northern Ireland.
"The scare stories put out by some have severely tarnished the borough and it has been a difficult process for staff working under such conditions."
Hundreds of people have already signed an online petition asking for an audit of the council's finances.
"Why should the people of the council area be made to pay for total financial incompetence of our elected representatives?" the petition read.
