In a recent announcement Adem Somyurek, Local Government Minister, said a new 2% cap had been set on rate rises by Victorian councils. He said the forecast Consumer Price Index for 2020-21 predicted by the Treasury and Finance Department had guided the rate of the cap, adding:
“Our Fair Go Rates system has put a stop to a decade of unfair, unsustainable increases that hit hard-working Victorian families.”
The Fair Go Rates cap had originally been introduced four years ago in an effort to kerb excessive council rate increases. Many averaged up to 6% a year. During that time the cap had been set at 2.5% (2016/17), 2% (2017/18), 2.25% (2018/19) and 2.% (2019/2020).
Somyurek said the government’s Fair Go Rates scheme has effectively stopped 10 years of unsustainable, unfair increases and has encouraged greater transparency and accountability by Victorian councils.
When announcements such as this are made by local authorities, brochure printing services are often employed to provide the community with the information they need.
According to the Minister, the introduction of Fair Go Rates has also seen rates slowed while spending on services and capital works has increased. Further information about the new cap and Fair Go Rates scheme is available online.