Monash rates are now the lowest in Victoria

 

Over the past 13 years, I have worked hard on Council to always put residents first and to keep rates low. 

I am proud that that Monash rates are now lower than any of the other 78 councils in Victoria.

This has not been easy to achieve and has been something which I (along with others) have worked diligently and deliberately to achieve.

 

Monash ratepayers now pay hundreds of dollars less every year than ratepayers in other parts of Victoria:

 

Yet, Monash’s lower average rates have not come at the expense of services or high quality facilities.  Over the past decade, Monash Council services have been improved while significant new sporting, cultural and community facilities have been built or improved.

My focus has been, and continues to be, on:

• ensuring that Council services are focused on the highest need areas;
• prioritising services aimed at lower socio-economic groups (such as pensioners and non-English speaking residents);
• finding more efficient ways of doing things; and
• limiting new spending to only those areas which pass a rigourous business case test.

This is why Monash residents now pay the lowest rates and enjoy some of the best services and facilities available in Victoria.

Of course, this doesn’t make the annual rates bill easy to pay for many families in Monash.  I am acutely aware of this and that’s why I and others on Council have been determined to do whatever we can to assist with cost of living pressures and keeping rates as low as possible.  I think there is nothing more important for a Council which cares about its community to concentrate on.