Rates notice: how to read it
Your rates notice includes many details (a portion of which is set by the Victorian Government). Look at the example to learn about the main elements and to better interpret your own notice.
Example rates notice
Fee types
Your total rates due are made up of 3 main types:
- rates
- charges not covered by general rates
- fire services property levy.
Rates
Rates are calculated and use multiple details on your notice:
Rate in the $ on CIV × Capital Improved Value
Rates depend on property valuation data set by the Victorian Government each year.
General rates
These are typically the largest fee component of your notice. General rates are listed on your notice as line items, such as:
- residential improved / residential vacant or
- commercial improved / commercial vacant.
Waste rates
Waste rates are listed on your notice as line items, such as:
- public waste rate or
- kerbside waste rate.
Watch a 2 minute video and learn all about these rates on our page, Waste rates explained.
Other charges: bigger or extra bins
Have a large general waste bin or maybe even a large green waste bin? There's a fee on top of your general rates to use the larger size.
All fees are itemised.
Fire services property levy
You will notice multiple fees described as:
- Fire Levy - Residential Fixed or
- Fire Levy - Residential Variable.
These fees are set by Victorian Government and are collected and passed on by us as a collection agent.
The levy is in 2 parts:
- a fixed fee, $132.00 for residential properties and $267.00 for non-residential.
- a variable fee, calculated as: capital improved value × levy Rate in $ on CIV
The State Revenue Office: Fire Services Property Levy outlines what the funds are used for and how they're set.
Rate cap: when does it apply?
We have multiple sources of funding to provide facilities and run services including grants, interest on investments and rates revenue.
The total amount of rates revenue we need is set annually in our budget process. Increases to this amount from the previous year is limited by a 1.75% rate cap.
Your rates bill may be more or less than you expected because the 2.75% cap applies to the total amount of rates we require, not your individual property.
The overall rate revenue amount is important as it is used to set the general rates Rate in the $.