One writer said the city could not afford to have councillors with their "heads in the sand" while another said ratepayers should not be putting up with "incompetent councillors".
A number of councillors said they were unaware the issue had become so serious, and they had been forced to make severe cuts to upcoming capital works programmes.
However, councillor Glenys Searancke said it would be unfair to blame individual councillors or council staff.
"We can only go on what is put in front of us and the information we are given at the time. To some extent [former chief executive] Peter [Guerin] did tell us we could not go on with minimal rates increases like the ones last year before we'd get into trouble with debt.
"But, it was the quantum of how much we have to cut back on capital works projects that surprised and concerned me."
"I was not surprised we had so much debt, that's what I told people during my election campaign, and I completely understand the criticism," she said.
During last year's election campaign and Annual Plan process former Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters and former chief executive Peter Guerin responded to criticism regarding debt levels by saying debt was well within acceptable levels and there was nothing to worry about.
Mr Guerin said last night he did not believe some councillors were completely unaware of the council's financial situation.
"It's a mystery to me that they didn't know," he said.
Mr Guerin said a financial plan, outlining plans to keep rate increases low until the economy picked up, was created as part of the council's long-term plan.
Councillor Janet Wepa, who presided over last year's Annual Plan process which agreed to a less than 1 per cent rates increase, said she was aware there was a problem with financial reporting before the elections.
"But you can't just suddenly change everything and we were on our way to dealing with it before then."
Mrs Wepa said she was not aware operational costs were being paid for by debt.
"We did try and take steps before the election to put debt repayment policies in place.
"I had a clear understanding of our debt situation, but my decision was to keep rate increases low so as to support our struggling community," she said.
Councillor Charles Sturt said he was continually shut down by Mrs Wepa and Mr Winters when he challenged council debt levels during last year's Annual Plan process.
He said without detailed financial information he was not aware of the looming debt crisis.
Mr Winters did not respond to requests made by the Rotorua Daily Post to comment.
