The idea of raising rates from specific businesses follows a decision to fine owners of properties in central Frankston who fail to maintain their properties.

The owners of the former Dimmeys building recently had their rates tripled and were fined more than $30,000.

Money raised by the new pokies rate would go into the newly established Frankston Community Fund before being assigned to specific projects.

Cr Brad Hill successfully moved the motion at last week's council meeting and officers will now investigate the feasibility of the plan.

Two councillors, Glenn Aitken and David Asker, opposed the move.

"I'm looking at it from a small business point of view. I don't want to be seen to be hindering business or making Frankston unfriendly to small business," Cr Asker said.

He did not believe councillors' moral views on gaming should influence decision-making and said the move could potentially cost jobs. It is understood at least one other Victorian council has a similar plan.

Since they were voted into office in November 2008, the councillors have weighed up a number of options on how to curb pokies gambling in the municipality and vowed to fight new applications despite legal costs.

Some councillors and officers say they are confused about how the State Government allocates money from its Community Support Fund, which distributes 8.33per cent of pokies revenue for sporting, arts and other projects.

The Government says it has approved about $8million worth of projects in Frankston since mid-2005 but many of them have not been undertaken – such as $2.5million for the stalled Frankston Regional Aquatic Health and Wellness Centre.

"The council has asked the Government for the fund details, but it is still very unclear how much has been returned to Frankston," Cr Hill said.

About $75million is spent each year on pokies at Frankston's 10 licensed venues with the Seaford Hotel taking about $20million, twice as much as any other venue.