Your rates at work - 2020/21

M AR I B Y R N O N G 2 0 2 0 – 2 0 2 1

Your rates at work

Building a vibrant, diverse and progressive city striving for a sustainable future.

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

COVID-19 SUPPORT

Council delivers more than 60 services and programs to support the community, ensuring Maribyrnong remains a great place to live, work and play. Your rates make a significant contribution towards delivering our vision and goals for the area.

Council has dedicated $11 million to COVID-19 relief since April 2020 to meet the needs of local residents and businesses who have been affected by the pandemic.

The past few months have been particularly challenging for many in our community and we are committed to supporting our local residents and businesses through this uncertain time.

Council listened to community feedback on the 2020/21 Budget and resolved to set a rate increase of zero per cent. We have provided $11 million in resources and assistance to the community since April 2020 – through the initial COVID-19 relief packages, a zero rate increase, in-kind support and our expanded COVID-19 Business and Community Support packages. If you have been financially impacted by the pandemic, Council has a range of business and community support available. For further information, visit maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/covid We understand that rates are a significant cost for our residents and you can be assured that Council manages the budget carefully. The Annual Budget has been developed in line with Council’s Long Term Financial Strategy and Plan. Council is working with an overall budget of $149.7 million.

This brochure aims to help you understand 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.

COVID-19 relief packages include: • A COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy, which will allow all ratepayers experiencing financial hardship to apply for an interest free payment plan or to defer their rates without penalty interest for a period up until 30 June 2021.

• Deferral of quarterly rate payments (May and September 2020) for businesses and residents. Additionally for affected businesses, the May 2020 quarterly payment was discounted by 50 per cent and eligible business can receive a 25 per cent rebate on the September 2020 quarterly payment.

• Waiving a range of planning application fees for small businesses starting up, extended to 30 June 2021.

• Not-for-profit community rental payments have been waived, extended to December 2020.

• Kinder central enrolment fees have been waived until the end of 2020.

• Pet registration fees will also be waived/reimbursed for affected residents.

• A number of initiatives to support our local arts community, including grants (upon application) for notfor-profit community arts organisations.

• Lease, licence and ground fees, and utility and water fees will be waived for not-for-profit community sporting clubs, extended to 30 June 2021.

Council is also providing further targeted relief for families and young people ($350,000), and businesses ($271,000).

These initiatives aim to support those most vulnerable in our community.

Please stay safe and look after one another during this time.

For more information about the COVID-19 community and business support packages, visit: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/covid

Cr Sarah Carter Mayor of the City of Maribyrnong

To apply for a payment deferral, visit: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/rates

Maribyrnong City Council Cnr Napier and Hyde Streets Footscray

P: (03) 9688 0200 F: (03) 9687 7793

Postal Address: PO Box 58, Footscray, Vic 3011

email@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

UNDERSTANDING YOUR RATES NOTICE

1 Property assessment number

Required when paying your rates.

2

3

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

How your rates are calculated This is your rate amount for 2020/21 which is calculated by multiplying the rate in the dollar by the valuation.

The rate in the dollar is set annually, for the 2020/21 financial year this is set at $0.00276226 for residential properties.

4

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.

5

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

6 Waste management service charge

Pays for your weekly rubbish and fortnightly recycling bin collections, one general rubbish and green hard waste collection for the year.

7 Municipal charge

Contributes to the operational costs of Council.

8 Green waste or additional bins

Requested service, charged as a user pays fee.

9 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.

10 Fire services property levy charge

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.

11 Total outstanding

This amount indicates all the rates and charges for 2020/21, 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.

Other sources of funding that Council receives and

actively seeks include State and Federal grants and partnerships with key stakeholders within the municipality.

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

BUDGETED INCOME 2020-2021 X

• RATES AND CHARGES FEES AND FINES • STATUTORY other income • USER FEES OPERATING Contributions • GRANTS -–monetary • GRANTS – CAPITAL Grants - Capital – MONETARY • CONTRIBUTIONS • CONTRIBUTIONS – NON MONETARY Grants - Operating INCOME • OTHER

71% 7% 7% 5% 1% 4% 3% 2%

User fees Statutory fees and fines Rates and charges

BUDGETED EXPENDITURE 2020-2021 ($ IN MILLIONS)

Strategic Initiatives

• COMMUNITY SERVICES • • INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES Infrastructure Services SERVICES • PLANNING • CAPITAL & IMPROVEMENT WORKS Planning Services SERVICES CORPORATE

Corporate Services

$26.61 $27.09 $35.00 $23.57 $52.24

Community Services

CAPITAL AND IMPROVEMENT WORKS % Waste Management

20% • BUILDINGS 6.30% Roads • LAND 4.80% • COMPUTERS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS Recreational, Leisure and Community Facilities 1.70% • LIBRARY BOOKS 3.50% • PLANT, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT Parks, Open Space and Streetscapes 1.30% • DRAINAGE 5.90% • FOOTPATH AND CYCLEWAYS Off-street Carparks 1.20% • OFF-STREET CARPARKS PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND STREETSCAPES 24% • Footpath and Cycleways • RECREATIONAL, LEISURE & COMMUNITY FACILITIES 3.40% 24.40% • ROADS Drainage 1.20% • WASTE MANAGEMENT

OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE 2.30% • Bridges Plant, Machinery and Equipment

WHERE DO YOUR RATES GO?

Your rates allow the City of M to-day life. These services h This is just a snapshot of som

SERVICE

FOR EVERY $100 OF EXPENDITURE

FACT

Activation and festivals

$2.58

• the community connects • festivals attract more than

Aged & diversity

$2.17

• programs and activities to Group and the annual Sen

Arts and culture

$1.09

• encouraging community • strengthen arts communi

Asset management

$0.73

• keeping our infrastructure

Building maintenance

$3.58

• ensuring our buildings ar

Capital and improvement works

$35.67

• constructing and upgradi

City amenity

$5.51

• keeping our city presenta • responding to after hours

Community centres

$1.53

• more than 300,000 visits t • providing more than 30,0

Connecting the community and advocacy

$1.68

• engaging with our comm • advocating to State and F

Customer service

$1.44

• providing efficient and fri • informing our community

Early years and maternal and child health

$3.01

• keeping our children hea playgroup support • promoting healthy and ha

Emergency and risk management

$1.44

• ensuring the safety of our organisations

Finance and HR

$2.43

• administering all financia

Governance and commercial services

$2.48

• providing good governan • ensuring Council’s legisla

Information technology

$6.30

• utilising technology initia • providing free public Wi-

Leisure, health and wellbeing

$3.63

• improving the health and the Maribyrnong Aquatic

Library services

$3.81

• five libraries across the C • investing $844,377 on libr

Local laws and compliance

$0.21

• responding to communit

Open space, city design and strategic planning

$5.94

• planning for our growing

Roads and drainage maintenance

$3.54

• manage and maintain 32,

Sports and turf maintenance

$5.51

• improve community spor

Sustainability and environment

$4.61

• greening our City by plan • allocating $240k towards

Youth services

$1.11

• supporting young people

GRAND TOTAL

$100.00

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

ts by participating in more than 20 festivals and events through the year han 225,000 residents and visitors, helping to boost business and tourism

s to support older people including a Positive Ageing Strategy, seniors’ day trips, Meals on Wheels, Older Person’s Reference Seniors Festival

ty participation by offering over $650,000 in grants, funding and arts programs unity with annual grants, low-cost leases to local arts organisations and artist in-residence programs

ure 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

ading our assets and community spaces, to ensure the needs of our community are met now and well into the future

ntable and safe with footpath sweeping and cleansing programs, Safe City CCTV, syringe and sharps facilities, and fire hydrants urs and emergency call outs with rapid response service for graffiti and illegal rubbish dumping

ts to our four community centres 0,000 people quality activities and programs at our community centres and libraries

mmunity with over 97,000 visits to our online consultation platform Your City Your Voice d Federal government on major initiatives

friendly service to our residents by responding to over 245,000 customer requests nity about our services, projects and initiatives with over 1.7 million web page visits

ealthy by providing advice and support through maternal and child health education services, child care, kindergarten and

d happy families through assessments, support services, referrals, education and immunisation programs

our community by mitigating risks and emergencies by collaborating with emergency services, government and community

cial matters, human resources and occupational health and safety. This includes preparing a fiscally responsible budget

nance and accountability with Monthly Ordinary Council Meetings and Special Committee Meetings slative requirements are met including contracts, procurements and risks

tiatives to manage the city’s resources and services and develop the city as a ‘Smart City’ Wi-Fi in our facilities

nd wellbeing of our community by providing health, fitness, leisure and education programs and attracting 709,000 visitors to tic Centre

City providing a multifaceted space for reading, meeting, researching or reflecting to almost 380,000 visitors ibrary collections

nity needs by managing, regulating and controlling activities which provide peace, order and good government

ng City and ensuring we meet the needs of our community by providing strategic direction for open spaces and urban design

32,600 square metres of roads by investing $18.88 million on road and drainage improvement works across the City

portsgrounds and lawns by gardening, mowing, replacing damaged equipment and watering

lanting over 8000 new trees, shrubs and ground covers ds our response to the Climate Emergency, including creating opportunities for residents to attend environmental programs

ple aged 12 to 25 years by providing programs, activities and services at Phoenix Youth Hub

COUNCIL REBATES

FIRE SERVICES PROPERTY LEVY

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.

The Victorian Government requires all councils to collect the Fire Services Levy from ratepayers. All funds received

by Council through this levy go directly to supporting the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB). For more information, visit firelevy.vic.gov.au

If you hold a pensioner concession card or a Veteran Affairs card, you are eligible to receive a rebate on your rates.

For the 2020/21 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 $241.00 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 $198.20.

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.

RECEIVE YOUR RATES NOTICE ELECTRONICALLY Enjoy the convenience of having your rates notice emailed to you. Fill out the registration form for eNotices on our website: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/rates New residents need to receive their first rates notice by mail before they can go online to register for email rates notices.

For more information or queries, contact us via email@maribyrnong.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. The objection process is managed by the office of the Valuer-General through their contracted Valuers. 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 sent to the Valuer-General’s contract Valuer for review and assessment.

For further information about lodging an objection, please contact Council on 9688 0200.

ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE Council fully appreciate that rates can be a burden, especially in light of COVID-19, and we encourage those who are experiencing financial difficulties to contact Council to discuss payment options and assistance.

To find out more, visit maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/rates or call 9688 0200.