December 2016
The Victorian rate capping environment is going to force considerable changes in the way councils plan and operate.
In December 2015 the Victorian State Government passed a law that caps the amount that a council can increase its rates by each year. This has been touted as a victory for Victorian ratepayers, who have seen rates in the ten year period from 2004-14 increase at nearly three times the rate of inflation. There is no disputing that rates capping helps ratepayers’ back pockets (at least in the short term), but what impact does it have on the long term financial sustainability of councils and their ability to continue to provide essential services to their communities?