Zero to two per cent rate rises considered

Ratepayers in Baw Baw Shire can expect another tight council budget this year regardless of whether council doesn’t increase rates or adopts a rise somewhere up to the state government’s allowable two per cent.

Mayor Danny Goss said council was looking at a range of options from zero to two per cent but whatever was decided would provide a continuing challenge given the shire’s ongoing growth.

He said public release of a draft budget for 2020-2021 was targeted for June 24 with final adoption on August 26.

Although the government has allowed councils to push settling on a budget back to late August due to impacts of the coronavirus Cr Goss said required payment dates would remain the same.

People that choose to pay by instalments will still need to make the first of four payments for the year in September.

Cr Goss estimated a two per cent increase in the basic rate would increase average residential rates for the year by about $40.

Even if there was no increase in the rate per dollar capital improved value (CIV) some ratepayers would pay more because of property revaluations now done annually each January by the State Valuer-General’s office, he said.

There will be some relief on rate notices with a planned increase in the State government’s landfill levy collected on its behalf by deferred for a year.

However, Cr Goss said there had not yet been any advice as to whether the fire services levy, that councils also collect for the government, would remain at the 2019-2020 figure.

He said council was looking closely at possible further savings in operational costs despite the extra strain on financial resources.

Savings during the current year had enabled council to direct an additional $2 million to road maintenance in 2020-21, Cr Goss stated.