Funding our future

The Local Government Act 2020 requires Council to adopt a Revenue and Rating Plan by the next 30 June after a general election for a period of at least the next four financial years.

The Revenue and Rating Plan sets out how Council will raise revenue to fund services, infrastructure, and projects that uphold the strategic objectives in the Council Plan. It explains how Council calculates the revenue it needs to fund its activities, and how the funding will be allocated between ratepayers and other users of Council facilities and services.

The Revenue and Rating Plan ensures an appropriate, affordable, and transparent approach to revenue and rating, balancing affordability for ratepayers with the need to fund Council’s objectives.

It also outlines key assumptions, policies, and decisions for generating income to support community needs over the long-term (Community Vision, Asset and Financial Plan), medium-term (four-year Council Plan), and short-term (Annual Budget).

How to participate

Council has prepared a new draft Revenue and Rating Plan.

Read the overview below or access the draft Plan in full via the Document Library, then share your feedback with us by below.

Feedback closes midnight Wednesday 14 May 2025.

Council's income can be affected by changes in funding from other levels of government, particularly where funding is tied to delivering specific services.

Council has a number of revenue streams that are used to fund the assets and services provided to the community. The most important sources of revenue to fund services and infrastructure are:

• rates (over 72% of operating revenue) and charges
• waste and garbage charges (if applicable)
• grants from other levels of Government (both State and Federal)
• statutory fees and fines
• user fees
• contributions from other parties (i.e. developers, community groups)
• interest from investments
• sale of assets.

Fees and charges

Council provides various services to the community, usually with a fee or charge. These fees are either statutory (required by law) or optional (discretionary).

Council currently uses a service charge to fully cover the cost of waste services and future landfill rehabilitation.

Rates are property taxes that help Council raise money to fund essential public services for the local community. This tax system is designed to be flexible, allowing Councils to use different methods to make sure rates are fair for everyone. Council's rating structure is made up of three main parts:

Victorian State Government Rate Capping

The Victorian Government's Fair Go Rates System limits how much councils can raise rates unless approval is given for a variation. All rate increases are capped to a rate declared by the Minister for Local Government, which is announced in December for the following financial year.

Council aims to maintain services and invest in community assets while reducing reliance on rates. Future rate increases are essential to fund services and keep up with rising costs. If rates don’t increase with the cap, service delivery will decline over time.

Rating system

Council has applied the Capital Improved Value (CIV) to all properties since July 2019.

The Valuation of Land Act 1960 is the principle legislation in determining property valuations. Under the Valuation of Land Act 1960, the Victorian Valuer-General conducts property valuations on an annual basis. Maribyrnong City Council applies a CIV to all properties within the municipality to take into account the full development value of the property. This basis of valuation takes into account the total market value of the land including buildings and other improvements.

This makes it a fairer way to assess a property owner's ability to pay rates, providing a more equitable rating system compared to Site Value or the previously used Net Annual Value system.

Rating principles

When developing a rating strategy, in particular with reference to differential rates, Council gives consideration to the following good practice taxation principles: