Annual Report 2018-19

Our local government outcomes report gives ratepayers the power to see more information about their council’s services, infrastructure and financial outcomes following the introduction of rate capping.

Our first outcomes report looks at the impact of rate-capping in 2016–17 and 2017–18. It included detailed fact sheets showing key results for each council, including the impact on average rates and municipal charges.

What we found:

Annual growth in council rates has slowed

We found Victoria’s rate capping system has kept a lid on rate rises without having a significant impact on services to ratepayers and asset renewal.

Waste charges have not increased dramatically

After two years of rate capping, rate caps do not appear to have led to a notable increase in waste charges (which do not fall under the rate cap).

Spending on capital and services has increased

After two years of rate capping, council spending on capital and services has increased overall.

How we engaged with the community and councils

Ratepayers and other community members offered us a wide range of views about what was important to include in this report and how it should be presented.

Focus group participants were most interested in understanding councils’ income sources, expenditure areas and average rates increases.

As well as showing the impact on rates, people told us it was important that the report included:

• the impact of rate capping on asset renewal and the asset renewal gap
• the long-term financial sustainability of councils
• any impact on the range of services councils provide.

Council staff asked us to use existing data sources to limit the reporting burden on councils, which we did, and to acknowledge the limitations of existing data. 

View information on all councils at: www.esc.vic.gov.au/outcomes-reports