Budget

As with every organisation’s budget, each financial year brings changes, which includes our Council rates. 

For most residents, your rates will increase by an average 3.00%. This increase is in line with the Victorian Government’s 3.00% mandatory rate cap. 

Each year the Victorian Minister for Local Government sets the rate cap amount based on the forecast Consumer Price Index (CPI) and advice from the Essential Services Commission (ESC).    

For the 2025-26 financial year, the Minister has set the rate cap at 3.00%. The Minister announced the rate cap on 23 December 2024.   

The state government rate cap applies to the Council’s total rate revenue only - not individual properties. Individual rates bills may increase or decrease by more (or less) than the capped rise amount due to their valuation movements.  

For further information on how rates are calculated, visit Calculating Rates (localgovernment.vic.gov.au)   

Residential rates for households will increase by an average 3.00% per cent.   

It is up to each individual council to determine their rates, based on what they are planning to deliver to their community. 

Every year we invite all residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in the community consultation on the budget. 

Everyone was invited to take part in the community consultation on the budget, and we promoted this widely around Moonee Valley with postcards, posters, newsletter content, email alerts, social media content and website updates. 

We invited feedback on the draft budget from 1 to 28 May 2025, then heard formal budget submissions at a Council meeting on 12 June 2025. The submissions and feedback from community members were considered as we developed the final budget.

A freeze on rates would significantly impact Council’s ability to deliver on services to our community, including home and community care for elderly and disabled residents and child and maternal health care.    

A freeze would also impact Council’s capital works program including improvements to local roads, the Early Years Building Block program, sportsfield renewal and upgrade works, and the planting of street and park trees to cool and green the city, among other projects. Finally, it would impact Council’s ability to carry out important maintenance works including to footpaths, drainage, parks and gardens, sportsgrounds and facilities.  

Waste charges have increased by 0.45%, which means residents will pay a total of $415.30, or $385.30 if you are an eligible recipient pensioner under the State Concessions Act 2004 over the course of the financial year. This charge covers services including weekly garbage collection, fortnightly recycling bin collection and processing, hard waste collection, and other services such as street cleaning. The charges are based on a cost recovery basis. This increase also reflects the increased landfill levy by the Victorian Government. 

Moonee Valley City Council waste charges have been in effect since 2014-2015. 

Residents can set up a payment plan and pay smaller amounts more regularly. We also have a hardship policy. If you would like to access these options, please contact our Civic Centre customer team on 9243 8888 to discuss how we can help you find the right support options.