AN 11th-hour bid to scuttle a proposed 2 per cent average rate increase in favour of a zero rate rise was narrowly defeated when Mildura Council met this week to consider the 2020-21 draft budget.

The push by councillors Glenn Milne, Helen Healy, Gavin Sedgmen and Anthony Cirillo to keep the status quo failed four votes to five despite arguing that any increase would fail to show community compassion during the economic downturn of the current COVID-19 pandemic.