Victorian Government rating system review

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The State Government is running a review of the Local Government Rating System, and all residents are invited to share their thoughts and feedback.

An independent panel is now reviewing all aspects of Victoria’s Local Government rating system. Their report will be submitted to the Minister for Local Government by 31 March, 2020.

All Victorians are welcome to have a say on Victoria’s rating system.

The Engage Victoria website has a discussion paper, information on rates, FAQs and fact sheets to help inform submissions, along with survey questions to answer.

The Review will examine the current application of rates and charges by local government in Victoria, including:

  • Current local government rates and charges levied under the Local Government Act and a number of other pieces of State legislation;
  • The rating system’s interaction with the State’s taxation, valuation and other systems;
  • Current rating exemptions and concessions;
  • The autonomy of local governments to apply the rating system to meet local needs;
  • Current exemptions and discounts for local government rates and their application to various classes of land, including farm land, charitable status land and mining land;
  • The impacts any recommended changes would have on councils, businesses and various classes of ratepayers.

The Fair Go Rate Cap, Commonwealth and State grants and other sources of local government funding will not be considered by the rating review.

A public meeting will be held regarding the review at the 1330 Conference Centre, 1300 Ferntree Gully Road in Scoresby on Thursday, 24 October from 6.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

Please note, the public meeting date was previously scheduled for 22 October and has been changed.

Council was not informed of this change of date.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Consultation on the rating system will finish on 1 November, 2019.

Visit the Engage Victoria website to share your feedback

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