As ratepayers should have received rates notices for the 2025-26 financial year, you may be interested to see how your property rates compare with a similarly priced home in one of our neighbouring local government areas. Simply click on the link https://ropp.org.au/property-rates-calculator-2/ and enter your capital improved value which is provided in your rates notice.

For example, if your Port Phillip terrace or townhouse is valued at $1.9 million your rates and charges will be $3,719 which is $1,392 more than the same value home in Stonnington, $1,173 more than Bayside and $735 more than Glen Eira.

Residents of Port Phillip have advocated for sensible spending on essential services, infrastructure, reducing wasteful spending and bringing rates and charges into line with our neighbouring councils.

Accordingly Bayside Council should be commended for ‘prioritising fiscal responsibility and efficiency’ and responding ‘to cost-of-living pressures with a zero per cent rate increase, below the three percent rate cap set by the Victorian Government’.

RoPP strongly objects to Council’s decision to increase spending by 5.6%—well above the anticipated inflation rate of 3.0%. At a time when families and businesses are tightening their belts, Council should be doing the same. At a special council meeting on 23 June 2025, Cr Beti Jay, Cr Rod Hardy, and Deputy Mayor Bryan Mears—took a principled stand and voted NO to Council’s proposed increase in rates and charges.

The rates calculator is accurate and based on rates and charges published in council budget papers. Links to Council documents are included in the web page. Calculations do not include the new Emergency Services & Volunteers Fund which is a state tax collected by local councils on behalf of the Victorian Government.