Knox City Council's budget
Each financial year Council prepares a budget based on priorities for the following financial year.
This takes into account our:
- purpose
- objectives
- functions
- powers
- Community and Council Plan.
Some of our priorities include:
- financing new and improved community assets (such as new buildings, roads)
- paying ongoing costs for services to children, families and the elderly, parks and reserves, library funding.
Once we have worked out our total spend, then we look at income sources.
In 2016, the Victorian Government introduced rate capping to restrict the amount that councils can raise their rates each year.
The rate cap is set each year by the Minister for Local Government. For the 2021-22 financial year the rate cap was set at 1.5 per cent.
Rates represent approximately 67 per cent of Knox City Council's total income.
How we calculate your rates
Council uses Capital Improved Value (CIV), which is simply the value of the land, building and any other improvements in respect to each rateable property.
The Capital Improved Value is multiplied by the rate in the dollar to calculate the general rates to be paid by each assessment.
For example
Capital Improved Value (CIV): $750,000 multiplied by the general rate in the dollar of 0.0017104 cents in the dollar = $1,282.80 rates payable.
For 2021-2022 the following rates in the dollar have been declared:
- Vacant Land Differential Rate: .0051311
- Retirement Village Differential Rate: .0012828
- Other Land Differential Rate: .0017104
- Commercial Differential Rate: .0042759
- Industrial Differential Rate: .0045325
- Cultural and Recreational Lands Act Rate: .0017104
What service rates and charges can cover
Council can levy general service rates or charges (or both) for any of the following purposes:
- the provision of water supply
- the collection and disposal of refuse
- the provision of sewerage services, and
- any other prescribed service.
Council levies a residential Waste Service Charge of $257 per annum that provides for the standard residential waste collection service.
This charge applies to all residential properties in Knox that have access to Council’s waste services.
The other waste charges listed are for optional services.
Service charges for waste collection services
In Local Government the most commonly used service charge is for the collection and disposal of refuse (Garbage and/or Recycling Charge).
The 2021/2022 charges include:
Request an appeal
You can appeal against the amount of rate or charge levied by your rate notice.
You must appeal within 60 days of receiving your rates notice.
Contact us for more information.
Grounds for appeal include the:
- land in respect of which the rate was declared was not rateable land
- rate or charge assessment was calculated incorrectly
- person levied with the rate or charge was not liable to be rated.
You can also appeal against the valuation of your property.
View your rates
You can view your current rates notice online via our eNotices services.
Reprint a rates notice
If you need another copy of your rates notice, you can request a reprint.
All online requests will be actioned within five working days during opening hours.
Need help?
Contact us and we will come back to you.
Or call our Customer Service team on 9298 8000.
