Merri-bek (VIC) Council budget and finances

Budget & finances

Every Victorian council reports the same set of financial measures to the state each year, under the Local Government Performance Reporting Framework (LGPRF). The state doesn't set pass marks for these measures. So we show Merri-bek's figure for 2024–25 next to the median of all Victorian councils. The median is the middle value: half of councils are above it and half below. The median is a point of reference, not a target.

New to these terms? Read them in plain English

Operating result (surplus / deficit): Income minus expenses for the year's normal operations.
Average residential rate: The typical yearly general-rates bill for a home in the area.

See the full explainer, with formulas →

The numbers

Average rate per property (2024–25): $1,914General rates plus any municipal charge, divided by all property assessments (homes and businesses). Merri-bek has no municipal charge. The Victorian median is $1,937.
Adjusted underlying result (2024–25): 8.8% surplusThe operating result without capital grants and contributions, as a share of that revenue. The Victorian median is 0.56%. In its LGPRF comment the council says the result rose from 7.91% mainly because part of the 2025–26 financial assistance grant was paid early.
Unrestricted cash ÷ current liabilities (2024–25): −0.21× (a negative figure)The Victorian median is 0.26×. In its LGPRF comment the council says the figure improved from −0.64× mainly because cash and cash equivalents rose by $13.7 million.
Borrowings: $13.7 million forecast at 30 June 2026The 2026–27 budget plans $4.0 million of new borrowing for its Strategic Land Assembly (taking the total to $15.5 million at 30 June 2027), and projects $15 million of borrowing for the Coburg Library in 2028–29.
2026–27 capital works: $89.1 millionIncludes $11.2m for roads and car parks, $10.6m for parks, open space and streetscapes and $5.8m for footpaths, bicycle paths and transport, plus the start of construction of the $12.5m Brunswick Early Years Hub (adopted budget, 22 June 2026).

Measure (2024–25)	Merri-bek	Victorian median
	8.8%	0.56%
Current assets ÷ current liabilities (short-term liquidity)	2.64×	2.17×
Unrestricted cash ÷ current liabilities (free cash)	−0.21×	0.26×
Loans and borrowings ÷ rates	14.3%	13.2%
Loan repayments ÷ rates	1.4%	1.4%
Non-current liabilities ÷ own-source revenue	7.1%	16.7%
Asset renewal and upgrade ÷ depreciation	182.9%	94.9%
Rates ÷ adjusted underlying revenue (reliance on rates)	70.8%	57.8%
Rates ÷ property values	0.27%	0.28%
Expenses per property assessment	$2,849	$4,100
Average rate per property assessment	$1,914	$1,937

Merri-bek City Council, LGPRF financial measures, 2024–25, next to the median of the 79 Victorian councils reporting each measure. Source: Local Government Victoria, LGPRF 2020–2025 Full Council Data Set (Nov 2025 release), CC BY 4.0. The median is CouncilBeacon's own calculation.

The LGPRF has no official benchmarks, and Local Government Victoria says its data shouldn't be used for simplistic league tables. So we don't mark any figure as a pass or a fail, and we don't rank councils. The Victorian median is CouncilBeacon's own calculation, taken across the Victorian councils that report each measure in the 2024–25 data set. A figure above or below the median isn't good or bad in itself. Councils differ in size, assets and services, and the council's annual report explains its own results. The 2025–26 figures are due in about November 2026.

Sources — check it yourself

Figures are current as at the dates shown and may change — always confirm with the linked source. See the notice at the bottom of the page for full details and how to report a correction.