2023-2024 Rates Brochure

MARIBYRNONG 2023-2024

Your rates at work

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

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Council delivers more than 57 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 these services along with the community infrastructure our growing city needs.

As our municipality continues to face challenges, including managing cost of living increases in a post COVID-19 environment and impacts from last October’s flood which affected more than 500 homes, Council has remained focused on developing a Budget that supports the rejuvenation of our City while balancing revenue and expenses to deliver the services and facilities you have told us are important in helping you to rebuild and reconnect. This year, Council will invest $87.63 million to maintain, redevelop, renew, and improve services and assets. Just under a quarter of this would be spent on road reconstruction, resurfacing and associated infrastructure, including new pedestrian crossings. Our road network and associated infrastructure is one of the areas our community specifically nominated in the 2022 Community Survey for us to address to ensure greater safety, improved accessibility and enhance our City’s liveability.

Council is also looking to invest an additional $22.05 million to improve the public realm, $14.48 million on sporting facilities, and $10.89 million on streetscape works. This would fund final designs for Bunbury and Barkly Street, along with long-awaited upgrades to Shorten Reserve, and detailed design or delivery of upgraded pavilions at Dobsons, Hansen and Pennell Reserves, and at Yarraville Oval.

In recognition of the value of open space to our community, Council will also be drawing down $4.4 million from open space reserves for land remediation and open space improvements at Quarry Park, establishing a permanent park at Raleigh Street, and Footscray Park pond landscaping and remedial works.

We know from our community survey in 2022 that our waste services are considered important and our community has expressed high levels of satisfaction with these. While this is pleasing, unfortunately with the additional landfill levies imposed by the State Government, and increased recycling, processing and contract costs, to continue to deliver the current service at the current level requires an increase in our waste service charges. This charge will be reflected on the next rates notice and equates to a little more than a dollar a week.

We’ve done all this with a lower rate cap than allowed for by the State Government – a 2.98% increase in total rates revenue collected rather than the 3.5% cap allowed – to support our community to thrive while still delivering quality services you are expecting from us.

We believe we have presented a responsible and balanced budget that meets the needs of our community while ensuring we are investing resources that will future proof our City and mitigate against the Climate Emergency. 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.

Cr Sarah Carter Mayor of the City of Maribyrnong

UNDERSTANDING YOUR RATES NOTICE

This is a typical residential rate notice. Individual rate notices may vary depending on individual circumstances.

Property assessment number

Required when paying your rates.

Valuations

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

How your rates are calculated

This is your rate amount for 2023/24, 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 2023/24 financial year this is set at $0.00251733 for residential properties.

Council pensioner rebate

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

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.

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 collection, 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 1 of $292.30 and waste management service charge 2 of $352.30 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.

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.

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.

Total outstanding

This amount indicates all the rates and charges for 2023/24, 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.

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.

Council receives 71% of its annual budget through rates. The remainder comes from fees, charges and transfers from State and Federal Governments.

WHERE DO YOUR RATES GO?

Your rates allow the City of Maribyrnong to-day life. These services help This is just a snapshot of some

• community connection is

• festivals attract more than

• programs and activities to property maintenance

• encouraging community participation

• strengthen arts community

• keeping our infrastructure

• ensuring our buildings are

• constructing and upgrading

• keeping our city presentable

• responding to after hours

• more than 300,000 visits to

• providing more than 33,000

• engaging with our community

• advocating to State and Federal

• providing efficient and friendly

• informing our community

• keeping our children healthy playgroup support

• promoting healthy and happy

• ensuring the safety of our organisations

• administering all financial

• providing good governance

• ensuring Council’s legislative

• utilising technology initiatives

• providing free public Wi-Fi

• improving the health and the Maribyrnong Aquatic

• five libraries across the City including eBooks, online

• investing $920,000 on library

• responding to community

• planning for our growing

• manage and maintain over

• improve community

greening our

and improving • includes offering environmental

• supporting young people

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

supported by more than 60 festivals and events throughout the year than 120,000 residents and visitors, helping to boost business and tourism to support older people include delivered meals, social support programs, annual Seniors Festival, community transport and participation by offering over $615,000 in grants, funding and arts programs community with annual grants, low-cost leases to local arts organisations, artist in-residence programs and over 28 events and workshops infrastructure up to scratch, managing and maintaining community buildings and facilities, roads, drains and footpaths are kept in shape and repairs are carried out quickly and comply with safety regulations upgrading our assets and community spaces, to ensure the needs of our community are met now and well into the future presentable and safe with footpath sweeping and cleansing programs, Safe City CCTV, syringe and sharps facilities, and fire hydrants and emergency call outs with rapid response service for graffiti and illegal rubbish dumping to our three community centres

33,000 people with quality activities and programs at our community centres community including over 49,000 visits to our online consultation platform Your City Your Voice Federal government on major initiatives friendly service to our residents by responding to over 183,000 customer requests about our services, projects and initiatives with over 2.29 million web page visits healthy by providing advice and support through maternal and child health education services, child care, kindergarten and happy families through assessments, support services, referrals, education and immunisation programs community by mitigating risks and emergencies by collaborating with emergency services, government and community

matters, human resources and occupational health and safety. This includes preparing a fiscally responsible budget governance and accountability with Monthly Ordinary Council Meetings and Special Committee Meetings legislative requirements are met including contracts, procurements and risks initiatives to manage the city’s resources and services and develop the city as a ‘Smart City’ Wi-Fi in our facilities

wellbeing of our community by providing health, fitness, leisure and education programs and attracting 661,000 visitors to Centre City providing a multifaceted space for reading, meeting, researching or reflecting, and delivering an online library service 24/7, programs library collections

community 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 over 2.3 million square metres of roads by investing $22.813 million on road and drainage improvement works across the City sportsgrounds and lawns by gardening, mowing, replacing damaged equipment and watering improving biodiversity by planting over 19,000 new trees, shrubs and ground covers environmental and solar programs for residents and businesses as our response to the Climate Emergency 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 2023/24 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 $259.50 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 $211.00.

Relief measures to be provided to flood impacted properties (2023/24)

Acknowledging the continuing impact of the October 2022 flooding event on a number of ratepayers, for approved applications:

• Rebate of 50% on the 2023/2024 Rates and Municipal Charges (excluding the State Government Fire Service Levy) for identified flood affected properties for the first and second quarter only.

• Rebate of 50% on the vacant residential land rate for identified flood affected properties, on condition the Certificate of Occupancy Permit is issued within 24 months of the completed building.

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.

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 in writing to Council in the prescribed form within two months of the issue date of your original rates notice. The objection will then be sent to the Valuer-General’s contract Valuer 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

Council is continuing to provide support to ratepayers in our community who are experiencing financial hardship. Rates relief and other resources are available to eligible ratepayers who may require assistance from Council:

• Payment arrangements: make regular payments tailored to your needs.

• Rates deferment: if you can’t make regular payments you can have your debt accumulated with the full payment due 1 July 2024.

• 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 RATES ARE CALCULATED

How much you pay for rates depends on the value of your property. The Valuer-General conducts valuations on 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 is multiplied by the ‘rate in the dollar’. The rate in the dollar, which varies depending on the property type, is calculated by dividing the total amount of rates revenue Council needs to provide essential services and facilities, by the total value of all rateable properties in the City.

The State Government has capped most council’s rates at 3.5%, whereas we have passed a 2.98% increase for 2023/24. This means the total rates revenue base collected can only increase by a maximum of 2.98% on last year, where a 1.75% rates increase was applied. Other income such as waste charges and other user fees and levies, remain uncapped.

While the Rate Cap applies to a council’s total rate base, individual properties may increase or decrease by more (or less) than the capped rise amount. This generally happens because the value of the property has increased or decreased in relation to the value of other properties in the area.