We assess or reject applications for council rate caps higher than the cap set by the Minister for Local Government each year. In 2019, we received two applications to exceed the 2.5 per cent council rate cap set for 2019–20.
Higher cap applications 2019
Overview
We assess or reject applications for council rate caps higher than the cap set by the Minister for Local Government each year.
In 2019, we received two applications to exceed the 2.5 per cent council rate cap set by the Minister for Local Government for 2019–20 from Mansfield Shire Council and Warrnambool City Council.
Higher caps applied for and approved
The following table outlines the higher caps that were sought (including minister's rate cap) for each financial year, and what we approved.
| Applied for: | Approved: | |||||
| Council | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
| Mansfield Shire Council | 13.94% | N/A | N/A | 13.94% | N/A | N/A |
| Warrnambool City Council | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | N/A |
Our decision on Mansfield Shire Council
Mansfield Shire Council applied for a single year higher cap of 13.94 per cent for 2019–20 in order to transfer $1.2 million from waste charges into general rates on a revenue neutral basis. We have approved this application. Our decision paper outlines our assessment approach and explains how we reached our decision. We have also published Mansfield Shire Council's higher cap application, and other resources.
Our decision on Warrnambool City Council
Warrnambool City Council applied for higher caps of 4.50 per cent for three years (2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22) to address its asset renewal gap. We have approved higher caps of 4.50 per cent for two years of the three years the council applied for (2019–20, 2020–21, but not for 2021–22).
Our decision paper outlines our assessment approach and explains how we reached our decision. We have also published Warrnambool City Council's higher cap application, and other resources.
Got a question?
Contact us for more information.