The Footscray Traders Association, Maribyrnong Residents Association, Footscray Asian Business Association and Save our Footscray have lodged a joint submission on the council's draft budget.

Save Our Footscray chairman Ken Betts said there were two major issues that had been raised with the Ombudsman's office: the process the council followed to approve installation of its controversial parking cameras in central Footscray, and a review of the council's financial procedures.

"We would suggest the methodology they're applying we don't agree with, and they're not following correct processes," Mr Betts said.

Footscray Traders Association president Grant Miles said the council had indicated an 84per cent decrease in parking camera fines between April last year and April this year.

"In the budget papers they're saying it's [parking fine revenue] going up 59per cent.

"They've told us categorically there are no more cameras going in, so we wanted them to explain how they can budget for a 59per cent increase."

More than 400 people attended a fund-raising dinner on Sunday organised by Save Our Footscray at which $10,000 was raised to build a "war chest" to launch court action to have parking cameras removed.

Mr Miles said legal advice obtained by SOF suggested it had a case to mount a legal challenge.

The Ombudsman's office would not confirm or deny a complaint had been received, or say whether any findings from an investigation would be made public should it act on a complaint.

Maribyrnong mayor Sel Sanli said residents and traders had

a right to complain to the Ombudsman. He said the legality of the parking cameras had been tested and would withstand a legal challenge.