But Warrnambool's fresh-faced seven councillors this week found out just how much every dollar counts.

After a long election campaign dominated with candidates' pledges for prudent financial management and listening/consulting with residents, this week's decision to bill cricket clubs rent this summer was met with disappointment, anger and a resignation nothing had changed after the historical clean out.

Shocked clubs said they had not been consulted.

The officer's report presented to Monday night's meeting said a decision to bill clubs would amount to additional revenue because the fees had not been budgeted for. In other words, the council had been expecting to forgo rent because of the impacts of COVID-19.

Councillor Ben Blain argued cricket clubs' already-limited revenue had been reduced because of pandemic restrictions on social functions and their sponsors had also suffered during lockdowns, impacting their ability to donate.

While mayor Vicki Jellie and deputy mayor Richard Ziegeler backed his views, a majority voted to bill clubs.

East Warrnambool-YCW president Luke Smith said three of his club's eight paying sponsors it had pre-pandemic had stepped aside as the economic pain of the coronavirus hit the region.

"It wouldn't be hard for them to call a president and ask 'how are you feeling? How has it been through COVID?," Smith said.

The council voted to extend free two-hour parking in the city's three main off-street car parks also on Monday night, depriving it of about $50,000 revenue. Cricket clubs were quick to point out they believed they were effectively paying for that decision.

Councillors also on Monday voted to give themselves the highest amount of remuneration possible. It is the same amount their predecessors received but when viewed alongside the cricket club rent decision, the council missed an opportunity to gain voters' confidence and trust that change was underway.