Cr Kelly also acknowledged the personal risk in leading the push for the increase, which would apply for the next five years.

"My head is on the chopping block, and so is that of every other councillor who has supported this, but I am doing it because I am passionate about the shire,'' she said.

"If you look around, shire people like good infrastructure and good services.

"If there was any other solution I would do it, but I have gone through everything and I feel this is the best solution for our community.''

Cr Kelly encouraged residents to have their say before the January 29 deadline.

The response will determine whether the council seeks State Government approval for the increase.

Cr Kelly said about 1350 responses had been received, but progress results could not be given because it would undermine the process.

However, the feedback had revealed the existence of several "myths'', she said.

They included that the council had lost money through investments during the global financial crisis, that it had mismanaged its spending, spent too much on administration and overseas travel and that, once in place, the levy would become permanent.

While Cr Kelly denied these claims, Cronulla MP Malcolm Kerr, who is one of the main opponents of the levy, said they were true.

Mr Kerr also said council literature continued to confuse ratepayers by suggesting the levy was for just one year.

The mayor should be offering ratepayers "solutions not ultimatums'', he said.

Cr Kelly reiterated that the levy would be spent on "ageing infrastructure'' and would include renovating or rebuilding all public toilets during the next three years.

"If ratepayers don't support the levy, council will have to look at cutting its services and facilities and we will all feel the consequences through a decline in the quality of our roads, footpaths, toilets, playgrounds, parks and other council-provided facilities,'' she said.