How your rates are calculated
- Council delivers its Annual Budget, identifying how much money it needs to collect in order to fund the infrastructure and services for which it is responsible.
- That figure is divided by the total value of all rateable properties in the municipality to calculate the two rate in the dollar figures that Latrobe City Council uses:
- General rate: applies to all land classified as residential, commercial, industrial, and vacant, etc; and
- Farm rate: applies to all land classified as farm land for primary production purposes
- The rate in the dollar is multiplied by the market value (called the capital improved value) of your property.
- Council adds any other standard charges, e.g. Municipal charge, Garbage charge, Fire Services Property Levy, etc, and deducts any applicable concessions or payments received.
- The resulting figure is the total amount you need to pay.
Current rate in the dollar 2022/23
| Rate type | Rate in the dollar |
|---|---|
|
General |
0.00322058 |
|
Farm |
0.00241544 |
| Derelict | 0.00966176 |
Municipal charge
The municipal charge is part of the rates levied by Council and is intended to distribute some of the administrative costs of running Council in a fairer way. This ensures that every ratepayer contributes a reasonable amount toward these costs. If there were no municipal charge, the rate in the dollar would be higher for everyone.
Council is authorised to collect a municipal charge under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 1989.
Garbage charge
The garbage charge is applied separately depending on the waste disposal requirements of your property. That is, the type of bin/s you have will determine how much you pay.
Learn more about bin charges.
EPA Victoria landfill levy
Council is required by law to collect the EPA landfill levy on behalf of the Victorian Government. One of the key purposes of the landfill levy is to provide additional and ongoing funding to support efforts by government, industry and the community to reduce waste.
Learn more about the EPA landfill and other Victorian Environmental Protection Authority initiatives.
Fire Services Property Levy
Council is required to collect the Fire Services Property Levy on behalf of the Victorian State Government to help fund the Country Fire Authority. The levy includes a fixed charge payable by all property owners, plus a variable levy which is calculated based on your land classification and Capital Improved Value of your property.
If you believe your land has been incorrectly classified for the purposes of this levy, you have a right to object within 60 days. Please contact Council to discuss your concerns.
If you are operating a single farming enterprise across multiple parcels of land, you may only be required to pay the fixed charge once. If you believe you may be eligible for an exemption, obtain an exemption application(PDF, 473KB) and return the completed form to Council.
Learn more about obtaining a concession on the Fire Services Property Levy.
Learn more about the Fire Services Property Levy.
Arrears, interest and legal costs
Overdue amounts attract interest of 10% per annum. If your Rates Notice indicates you are in arrears, interest will be charged to your account monthly until the arrears amount is paid in full.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please ensure you contact the Property and Rates team as soon as possible to arrange a payment plan and avoid further unnecessary charges.
Interest is calculated in accordance with Section 172 (2) of the Local Government Act 1989, as follows:
- For instalment payers, any outstanding amount not received on or before the due date of the instalment will incur interest from the date the rate or charge was due.
- For non-instalment payers, any outstanding balance as at 15 February each year will be charged interest from the date on which each missed instalment was due, as if the ratepayer had opted to pay their rates in instalments.
Legal proceedings may be commenced to recover rates and charges, and the ratepayer may incur legal costs as a result.
Payments you make will be allocated to any legal costs, interest or arrears prior to being allocated to your current rates and charges.