Read reports that determine whether councils have complied with the relevant rate cap when they set their rates for each financial year.
Council compliance reports
Overview
The Minister for Local Government sets local council rate caps. The cap is the maximum amount a council can increase its general rates and municipal charges within a financial year.
Each year, we produce a compliance report that outlines whether councils have complied with their council rate cap when they set their rates for each financial year.
Latest council compliance report
In our 2024–25 report, we found that all councils complied with the average rate cap.
Read our media release about the release of this report.
Key findings from our 2024-25 compliance report
All councils were compliant with the rate cap
All councils were compliant with the average rate cap of 2.75% for 2024-25.
Most councils increased their rates by or near to the rate cap
One council (Ararat) did not increase their average rates in 2024-25. All other councils set their rate increase at or near 2.75 per cent.
Waste service rates and charges continue to grow
There was an increase in uncapped waste service rates and charges in 2024-25, with councils budgeting an annual increase of 3.2 per cent per rateable property. Five councils introduced new service charges to recover the costs of waste services they had not previously provided.
The change in your council rates may not be the same as the rate cap
A council can comply with the rate cap even if individual ratepayers experience rate increases higher than the rate cap. View more information for ratepayers on this topic.