FAQs

 Rates are based on the combination of two variables plus the municipal charge.

- The rate in the dollar set by council each year as part of the budget process
- The valuation, the Capital Improved Value (CIV) of your property, as provided to council annually by qualified valuers contracted by Valuer General Victoria
- The municipal charge, a set fee on each assessment in the municipality 

Rates are payable by four quarterly instalments. Instalment dates are shown on the first notice issued in each year. This notice is normally issued in late August.   

Instalment reminder notices are issued prior to the due date of each instalment. The due date of each instalment is: 

Instalment 1 – Due 2 October 

Instalment 2 – Due 30 November 

Instalment 3 – Due 28 February 

Instalment 4 – Due 31 May 

Council does not have a lump sum due date. However, if you choose to do so, you can pay by the due date of the 1st instalment to avoid any additional interest charges. 

The municipal charge for the 2023/24 year is $82.00.

Differential rates are where council sets different rates in the dollar for different categories of rateable land. Differential rates can be set for Farm land, Commercial and Industrial type properties. 

Council believes that each different rate contributes to the equitable and efficient carrying out of council functions. 

You can find out more about the differential rates applied in the 2023/24 year on our “How rates are calculated” page on our website.  

In 2015, The Fair Go Rates system to cap rates was introduced to limit the amount of revenue increases a council can levy through rates. 

Each year the Minister for Local Government sets a cap on rate increases based on that period’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and advice from the Essential Services Commission (ESC).  
 
For the 2023/24 financial year, council rate rises were capped at 3.5%.  

It is important to note that there is no connection between rate capping and an individual’s rates. Rate capping applies to the total rate revenue for the whole municipality. 
 
The overall rates revenue collected by council cannot exceed the rate cap. However, the amount each property owner pays is calculated based on the value of their property. Some ratepayers will pay less than the rate cap, others will pay more. However, the overall rates collected by council will not exceed the rate cap unless they are granted an exemption. 

Northern Grampians Shire Council has always complied with the rate cap and has never sought permission for a higher cap. 

In the 2023/24 year, council raised $20,135M through rates. This amount includes waste charges but does not include the Fire Services Property Levy charges which are fully remitted to the State Government. 

The amount of $20.135M equates to 50.2% of council's total income.   

Further information about revenue can be found in council’s budget document accessible from Council Publications on our website. 

Council’s budget is developed in the context of its long term financial plan (the ‘Financial Plan’) and the Council Plan, which outlines the strategic agenda for the council during its term. These key plans prioritise council’s activities for the allocation of resources. 

Council must balance income and revenue with expenditure on services, programs, capital works, new initiatives and implementation of strategy whilst maintaining financial sustainability.

Site Value (SV) is the value of the land only, and assumes the land is vacant with no improvements such as buildings. 

Capital Improved Value (CIV) is the assessed market value of the property including both land (SV) and all improvements such as buildings.

Capital Improved Value is used for rating purposes by Northern Grampians Shire Council. 

Net Annual Value (NAV) is the current value of a property’s net annual rent less legislated expenses. Generally, NAV for residential and primary production properties is legislated to be 5 per cent of the CIV. 

SV, CIV and NAV are defined in the Valuation of Land Act 1960.  

Please note that you do not add the valuations together for rating purposes. Rates are levied on the CIV only, which is the market value of the property at a given date. 

The Valuer-General Victoria (VGV) is responsible for all valuations in Victoria. VGV contract and engage qualified valuers to determine property values throughout the Shire. Council has no jurisdiction over valuing properties for rates purposes. 

The Local Government Act 2020 and the Valuation of Land Act 1960 require all properties to be revalued annually. The valuation shown on your rates notice represents the value as at 1 January, ie the current valuation is based at 1 January, 2023. 

The valuation process assesses the amount that a property would sell for at a specific date. The latest property sales, rental data, land type, building condition and all property improvements are analysed as part of the valuation process. The valuation applied to the property should represent its market value as at 1 January (for the 2023/24 year this is 1 January 2023). 

It is important to note that property revaluations do not increase the total amount of rate revenue raised by Council.   

It only redistributes who pays the rates. 

There are various reasons as to why the valuation of your property may have changed, including higher sales figures for similar properties or improvements to the property, ie building additions. 

The valuation process assesses the amount that a property would sell for at a specific date. The latest property sales, rental data, land type, building condition and all property improvements are analysed as part of the valuation process. The valuation applied to the property should represent its market value as at 1 January (for the 2023/24 year this is 1 January 2023). 

If you believe that your property is incorrectly valued, you may lodge an objection. Sections 16, 17 and 18 of the Valuation of Land Act 1960 provide that ratepayers have a right to object to a property valuation. 

Objections must be lodged within two months of the date on the first rate notice in any year, or within two months from the issue date of any supplementary rate and valuation notice. Objections to Council rate notices must use the prescribed objection form. 

Any questions about valuations and objections can be discussed with council by phoning our Rating Team on 03 5358 8710. 

Even if you have lodged an objection, you must continue paying your rates and charges until your objection is resolved to avoid interest charges. 

The answer to this question is quite a complex one.  Amongst some of the challenges we have in small rural councils is that our shire covers more than 6,000 square kilometres of land containing over 3,000 kms of roads, 126 buildings, over 400 bridges and other infrastructure all of which is paid for by just 9,400 ratepayers. The total value of this infrastructure per capita in rural areas is about twice that of metropolitan councils.   

A comparison also requires consideration of the average rates per property. As you can see from the graph shown below, Northern Grampians Shire sits midway of rates in our neighbouring municipalities. This information was gathered from a State Government website called Know Your Council. It is available at Compare Councils - Know Your Council.   

The average rates are calculated using the average value of residential properties in our shire, which is $210,500.  If your property is valued at more than $210,500, then you will pay more than the average. 

The Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) is a State Government charge that was previously included on insurance premiums. The State Government requires all councils to collect the FSPL from property owners. All funds collected for FSPL are passed onto the State Government to support the Country Fire Authority. 

The levy is payable on all Victorian property, including council owned property. 

Further information regarding the FSPL can be found here. 

The Australian Valuation Property Clarification Code (AVPCC) is a property classification code. It is assigned to your property by the valuers in accordance with the Fire Service Property Levy Act 2012 and is shown on your rates notice. 

The AVPCC has no effect on the valuation of your property, it is used to identify the property’s classification (residential/commercial etc.) which is then used to calculate the correct Fire Service Property Levy that you contribute in accordance with the Fire Services Property Levy Act 2012. 

Legislation requires this code to be printed on your rates notice. 

Social Security and Veterans Affairs pensioners may be entitled to a concession on their municipal rates up to a maximum of $253.20. Eligible pensions will also be entitled to receive a $50.00 concession on their Fire Services Property Levy. 

To receive the concession, you must lodge a concession application form with council. To obtain more information regarding eligibility and to download an application form please see our Pension Rebates page here. 

Please note that a Health Care card does not entitle the holder to a concession. 

The concession is displayed on the first notice that is issued in any year. However, if you are unsure, please call the Rates Team on 03 5358 8710 who will assist you. Please note that provided individual pension details have not changed, it is not necessary to re-apply for the concession each year. 

A Health Care card does not entitle the holder to a rates concession. 

Where multiple parcels of land are used to operate a single farming enterprise, a person may only be required to pay council’s municipal charge and the Fire Services Property Levy fixed charge once, by applying for a Single Farm enterprise exemption. 

Applications for exemption must be submitted to council and any changes will be effective in the year that the application is received.    

An application form is available on the How Rates are Calculated page of our website here.

If further information is required about eligibility for Single Farm Enterprise exemptions, please contact the Rates Team by telephone on 03 5358 8710. 

Direct debits are a great way to ensure that your rates are paid on time every time. 

Council accepts direct debit payments for quarterly instalments, or by fortnightly or monthly payments. Before making an application for fortnightly or monthly direct debits, please contact the Rates Team to discuss an appropriate payment amount and the dates that the payments will be deducted. You can contact the Rates Team by telephone on 03 5358 8710 or via email at rates@ngshire.vic.gov.au 

Direct debit payment can only be made from a nominated bank account, not from a credit card. 

An application form for direct debit payments can be found here. 

Unpaid rates will incur a penalty interest rate of 10 per cent per annum after the instalment due date. The interest charged on overdue rates and charges is set by the Attorney General under the Penalty Interest Rates Act 1983. 

Council recognises that some customers may have difficulty paying part or all of their rates account. A phone call to the Rates Team is all that it takes to let us know that you are experiencing difficulties and for us to assist you. All enquiries made will be kept strictly confidential. 

Having a payment plan is often an effective way to ease the burden. Council offers a range of options for ratepayers to set up a payment plan. 

In cases of financial hardship, additional assistance can be provided in the form of a referral to a free independent financial counsellor. 

Please contact the Rates Team on 03 5358 8710 for any advice or assistance. 

Council has a Personal Financial Hardship Policy to assist those ratepayers in genuine financial distress. Assistance available includes a referral to a free independent financial counsellor.   

Please contact the Rates Team on 03 5358 8710 for any advice or assistance. 

A change of address form can be found on the “Changing your details” page of our website here.   

Alternatively, details of any changes may be emailed to the Rates Team at rates@ngshire.vic.gov.au 

Please note that council is able to email rate notices to you rather than send them via traditional post. This is a quick, secure and easy way to receive your rate notices direct to your email. Information about how to register for EzyBill is available here. 

Information on how to register for EzyBill (electronic delivery of rate notices) is available on our “How to pay your rates” page of our website.   

If you require further advice or assistance from our Rates Team in relation to this, please contact us either by phoning 03 5358 8710 or via email at rates@ngshire.vic.gov.au

No, unfortunately we cannot issue notices via both email and Australia Post.   

Email is council’s preferred method of delivery as it is more cost effective and allows for quick and efficient delivery to customers. 

Any ratepayer who is registered for EzyBill has access to a portal containing copies of all of their rate notices. Registrations for EzyBill can be made via the “How to pay your rates” page of our website. 

Ratepayers not registered for EzyBill should contact the Rates Team on telephone 03 5358 8710 or via email at rates@ngshire.vic.gov.au