Your rates at work - 2021/22

M AR I B Y R N O N G 2 0 2 1 – 2 0 2 2

Your rates at work

Building an inclusive, flourishing, progressive city that cares for both its residents and its environment.

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

COVID-19 SUPPORT

Council delivers more than 60 services and programs to support its community, ensuring Maribyrnong remains a great place to live, work and play. Your rates make a significant contribution towards delivering our vision and goals for the area.

Council has dedicated $11 million to COVID-19 relief since April 2020 to meet the needs of local residents and businesses who have been affected by the pandemic.

The last 18 months have been particularly challenging for many in our community and we continue to support our local residents and businesses. Economic and community recovery are high on our agenda, as is delivering the services and facilities you have told us are important to you.

We heard through community engagement on the Budget and Council Plan the community wants improved parks and open spaces, better roads, footpaths and cycle ways, and improved recreational, leisure and community facilities.

With this in mind, Council has channelled money into these areas to reflect what the community wants us to focus on.

We understand that rates are a significant cost for our residents and have heard your concerns around the impact of rates and taxes on the household budget. To this end you can be assured that Council manages the budget carefully and has presented a responsible and balanced budget to meet the needs of local residents and businesses, while also recognising the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our community. We are also actively exploring opportunities to generate income to reduce the financial burden on our ratepayers in the future.

The Annual Budget has been developed in line with Council’s Long Term Financial Strategy and Plan. Council is working with an overall budget of $173.9 million.

This brochure outlines how and where your rates will be used and how they will contribute to making the City of Maribyrnong a better place for all of us.

Please stay safe and look after one another during this time.

Cr Michael Clarke Mayor of the City of Maribyrnong

The COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy, which allows all ratepayers experiencing financial hardship to apply for an interest free payment plan or to defer their rates without penalty interest, has been extended to 30 June 2022.

To apply for a payment deferral, visit maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/rates

INTRODUCTION OF FOOD AND GARDEN WASTE SERVICE From October 2021, residents living in a stand-alone house (detached or semi-detached) within the City of Maribyrnong will receive a Food and Garden Waste bin as part of your standard kerbside bin service. The threebin service will become the standard waste service for all stand-alone houses.

To support the introduction of the service to residents, Council, with support from Sustainability Victoria, will provide the new green bins and caddies to each standalone house at no cost. The ongoing cost of the Food and Garden Waste service, half of which is being subsidised by Council for the first year, includes the collection of bins and processing of material, and will be included as part of the annual waste management service charge on your annual rates assessment notice.

For this financial year, residents will be charged $24 for the collection and disposal of the contents of the new green waste bin. This cost will appear as part of the waste charge on your 2021/22 rate notice, along with an $18.25 increase for waste management (this increase applies to all residential rates notices). As such, residents in stand-alone houses will see an overall increase of $42.25, taking the total waste charge to $222 for the 2021/22 financial year.

For more information about this service, please visit maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/foodwaste

Maribyrnong City Council Cnr Napier and Hyde Streets Footscray

P: (03) 9688 0200 F: (03) 9687 7793

Postal Address: PO Box 58, Footscray, Vic 3011

email@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

UNDERSTANDING YOUR RATES NOTICE This is a typical residential rate notice.

Individual rate notices may vary depending on individual circumstances.

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1 Property assessment number

Required when paying your rates.

2 Valuations

Council uses the capital improved value which is total market value of the land plus buildings as at the valuation date.

3 How your rates are calculated

This is your rate amount for 2021/22 which is calculated by multiplying the rate in the dollar set by Council by the property valuation, which is set by the Valuer General.

The rate in the dollar is set annually, for the 2021/22 financial year this is set at $0.00274695 for residential properties.

4 Council pensioner rebate

Council provides an additional rebate to Pensioner and Veteran Affairs card holders.

5 Pensioner rebate

If you hold a Pensioner Concession or Veteran Affairs card you are eligible to receive a rebate on your rates and are also entitled to a rebate against the Fire Services Property Levy.

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Municipal charge Contributes to the operational costs of Council.

Waste management service charge The three-bin charge is for residents in stand-alone houses. Along with the weekly rubbish and fortnightly recycling bin collections, this also pays for a new fortnightly green bin collection; and one general rubbish and hard waste kerbside collection for the year.

Residents in multi-dwelling complexes will see a waste management service charge of $198 on your rate notice, which pays for your weekly rubbish and fortnightly recycling bin collections, and one general rubbish and green hard waste kerbside collection for the year.

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Fire services property levy charge

This is a State Government charge shown on all Council rate notices. Levies collected are paid to the State Revenue Office.

9 Fire services property levy rebate

If you hold a Pensioner Concession or Veteran Affairs card you are eligible to receive a rebate on your rates and are also entitled to a rebate against the Fire Services Property Levy.

10 Total outstanding

This amount indicates all the rates and charges for 2021/22, yet to be paid.

WHERE DOES COUNCIL’S INCOME COME FROM? In order to deliver our diverse range of services and programs, Council collects rates and charges from all property owners in the City.

Council receives 68% of its annual budget through rates.

The remainder comes from fees, charges and transfers from State and Federal Governments.

We aim to leverage as much revenue as possible from sources other than rates, to minimise rate payments. This includes State and Federal grants and partnerships with key stakeholders within the municipality.

BUDGETED INCOME 2021-2022 other income

• RATES AND CHARGES FEES AND FINES • STATUTORY Contributions - monetary • USER FEES Grants - Capital– OPERATING • GRANTS • GRANTS – CAPITAL Grants - Operating – MONETARY • CONTRIBUTIONS • OTHER INCOME

68% 9% 8% 4% 6% 4% 1%

User fees

Statutory fees and fines Rates and charges

BUDGETED EXPENDITURE 2021-2022 ($ IN MILLIONS) Planning Services

• COMMUNITY SERVICES • • INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES Corporate ServicesSERVICES • PLANNING Infrastructure Services CORPORATE SERVICES

$21.83 $33.20 $62.41 $56.49

Community Services

CAPITAL AND IMPROVEMENT WORKS % X

17.84% • BUILDINGS LAND 3.81% Management •Waste 3.99% • COMPUTERS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS Roads 1.52% • LIBRARY BOOKS 3.19% • PLANT, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT Recreational, Leisure and Community Facilities 2.41% • DRAINAGE 11.77% • FOOTPATH AND CYCLEWAYS Open Space and Streetscapes OFF-STREET CARPARKS 0.14% •Parks, PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND STREETSCAPES 22.08% •Off-street Carparks • RECREATIONAL, LEISURE & COMMUNITY FACILITIES 13.12% ROADS 16.09% •Footpath and Cycleways 0.27% • BRIDGES WASTE MANAGEMENT 2.22% •Drainage 1.55% • OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE Bridges

WHERE DO YOUR RATES GO?

Your rates allow the City of M to-day life. These services he This is just a snapshot of som

SERVICE

FOR EVERY $100 OF EXPENDITURE

FACT

Activation and festivals

$2.54

• community connection is • festivals attract more than

Arts and culture

$1.13

• encouraging community p • strengthen arts communit

Asset management

$0.03

• keeping our infrastructure

Building maintenance

$3.77

• ensuring our buildings are

Capital and improvement works

$36.22

• constructing and upgradin

City amenity

$5.54

• keeping our city presentab • responding to after hours

Community centres

$1.40

• more than 100,000 visits to • providing more than 18,00

Connecting the community and advocacy

$1.81

• engaging with our commu • advocating to State and F

Customer service

$1.25

• providing efficient and frie • informing our community

Early years and maternal and child health

$3.09

• keeping our children heal playgroup support • promoting healthy and ha

Emergency and risk management

$0.38

• ensuring the safety of our organisations

Finance and HR

$3.56

• administering all financial

Governance and commercial services

$4.61

• providing good governan • ensuring Council’s legislat

Information technology

$6.33

• utilising technology initiat • providing free public Wi-F

Leisure, health and wellbeing

$3.23

• improving the health and the Maribyrnong Aquatic

Library services

$3.50

• five libraries across the Cit 24/7, including eBooks, on • investing $860k on library

Local laws and compliance

-$2.92

• responding to community

Open space, city design and strategic planning

$5.13

• planning for our growing C

Positive ageing and inclusion

$2.37

• programs and activities to maintenance, social suppo

Roads and drainage maintenance

• manage and maintain 32,6

Sports and turf maintenance

$4.22 $6.37

Sustainability and environment

$5.26

• greening our City and imp • allocating $600k towards o

Youth services

$1.18

• supporting young people

GRAND TOTAL

$100.00

*NOTE: these attendance figures are lower than typical years due to COVID-19

• improve community sport

Maribyrnong to deliver a variety of services that impact almost every aspect of dayhelp improve our neighbourhood and create a healthy and vibrant community. me of the services that Council can deliver as a result of your rates:

supported by more than 10 festivals and events through the year* n 125,000 residents and visitors, helping to boost business and tourism*

participation by offering over $650,000 in grants, funding and arts programs ty with annual grants, low-cost leases to local arts organisations and artist in-residence programs

e up to scratch, managing and maintaining community buildings and facilities, roads, drains and footpaths

e kept in shape and repairs are carried out quickly and comply with safety regulations

ng our assets and community spaces, to ensure the needs of our community are met now and well into the future

able and safe with footpath sweeping and cleansing programs, Safe City CCTV, syringe and sharps facilities, and fire hydrants s and emergency call outs with rapid response service for graffiti and illegal rubbish dumping

o our three community centres* 00 people with quality activities and programs at our community centres*

unity including over 41,000 visits to our online consultation platform Your City Your Voice Federal government on major initiatives

endly service to our residents by responding to over 170,000 customer requests about our services, projects and initiatives with over 1.7 million web page visits

lthy by providing advice and support through maternal and child health education services, child care, kindergarten and

appy families through assessments, support services, referrals, education and immunisation programs

r community by mitigating risks and emergencies by collaborating with emergency services, government and community matters, human resources and occupational health and safety, including preparing a fiscally responsible budget

nce and accountability with Monthly Ordinary Council Meetings and Special Committee Meetings ative requirements are met including contracts, procurements and risks

tives to manage the City’s resources and services and develop the City as a ‘Smart City’ Fi in our facilities wellbeing of our community by providing health, fitness, leisure and education programs and attracting 310,000 visitors to Centre*

ity providing a multifaceted space for reading, meeting, researching or reflecting, and delivering an online library service online programs collections

y needs by managing, regulating and controlling activities which provide peace, order and good government City and ensuring we meet the needs of our community by providing strategic direction for open spaces and urban design

o support older people and people with disability including an Inclusive Cities Framework, food services, property port groups, seniors groups and activities and the annual seniors festival

600 square metres of roads by investing $13.90 million on road and drainage improvement works across the City

tsgrounds and lawns by gardening, mowing, replacing damaged equipment and watering

proving biodiversity by planting over 17,000 new trees, shrubs and ground covers our response to the Climate Emergency, including offering environmental and solar programs for residents and businesses

e aged 12 to 25 years by providing programs, activities and services at Phoenix Youth Hub

COUNCIL REBATES Victorian home owners with eligible concession cards can claim a deduction on their rates. The rebate is reviewed each year in line with Consumer Price Index changes.

If you hold a Pensioner Concession card or a Veteran Affairs card, you are eligible to receive a rebate on your rates.

For the 2021/22 financial year, Council has adopted the following rate rebates: State funded pensioner rates remissions scheme This is a rebate of 50% of rates and charges up to a maximum of $247.00 per assessment (plus $50 for the fire services levy).

Maribyrnong City Council funded pensioner rates rebate scheme This is an additional rebate payable to pensioners up to a maximum of $201.30.

HARD WASTE COLLECTION Council provides one free pre-booked hard waste collection for residential properties each calendar year.

Most hard, metal and green waste materials can be collected, excluding hazardous, building and bulky materials. You can book a collection online via our website or call 9688 0200.

FIRE SERVICES PROPERTY LEVY Council collects the Fire Services Levy from ratepayers on behalf of the Victorian Government. All funds received through this levy go directly to supporting the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB). For more information, visit firelevy.vic.gov.au

LONG TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY AND PLAN Our Long Term Financial Strategy and Plan continues to focus on maintaining ageing infrastructure, planning for rapid population growth and maintaining excellence in program and service delivery. It also includes promotion of health and wellbeing opportunities for residents through the investment in improving the City’s natural spaces such as the bike and river trail, parks and gardens.

PROPERTY VALUATIONS The Valuer-General is the sole authority on land valuations that take place annually.

If you disagree with the value of your property, as listed on your rate notice, you can lodge an objection. Objections should be made directly to the Valuer-General for review and assessment.

For further information about lodging an objection, please visit the rating valuation objections portal via ratingvaluationobjections.vic.gov.au

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE With the financial impact of the pandemic being felt by so many, Council is continuing to provide support to ratepayers in our community who are experiencing financial hardship. Rates relief and other resources including free financial counselling are available to eligible ratepayers who may require assistance.

If COVID-19 has financially impacted you or your business, you can apply for: • Payment plans: make regular payments tailored to your needs, interest-free until 30 June 2022.

• Rates deferment: if you can’t make regular payments you can have your debt accumulated at no interest charged, with the full payment due 1 July 2022 • Pensioner rebates: available for ratepayers eligible for the State Government Pensioner Rebate.

You can apply online for rates relief assistance via our website or call 9688 0200 to discuss your options.

HOW YOUR RATES ARE CALCULATED How much you pay in rates depends on the value of your property. The Valuer-General conducts valuations on all properties each year to determine the Capital Improved Value (CIV) of your property, which is used by Council to calculate rates.

To work out how much you pay in rates, your property’s CIV (provided by the Valuer-General) is multiplied by the ‘rate in the dollar’.

The rate in the dollar is calculated by dividing the total amount of rates revenue Council needs to provide essential services and facilities for the year, by the total value (CIV) of all rateable properties in the City of Maribyrnong.

The rate in the dollar varies depending on the type of property you own.

The Victorian Government has capped the rates increase Councils can apply to 1.5% for 2021-22, which is applicable to the general rate and municipal charge. We have complied with this cap, which means Council cannot collect more than 1.5% more in rates revenue than it collected last year. This does not mean all individual ratepayers will see a 1.5% increase on their rate notice, as it depends on whether there has been an increase or decrease in the property value (as assessed by the Valuer-General) in relation to other properties in the City.