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Rates & fees

Rates & fees

Rates pay for most council services. In Victoria, the state sets a yearly cap on how much a council can raise its average rates. For 2026–27 the cap is 2.75%, and Monash's budget raises general rates by exactly that much. The cap applies to the average across all properties, so your own bill can rise or fall by more. From 2026–27 your notice also looks different: Monash now bills the cost of the household bin service as a separate waste charge, which is not covered by the cap, and has lowered general rates to take waste costs out of them.

New to these terms? Read them in plain English
Pensioner rebate
A discount on rates for eligible pensioners.
See the full explainer, with formulas →

Rates at a glance

2026–27 rate rise
General rates: +2.75% (the state cap)The budget raises total general rates to $138.27 million, from an annualised $134.57 million base (after waste costs were taken out). This equals the 2.75% cap set by the Minister for Local Government in December 2025, under the Fair Go Rates System. Monash has no municipal charge.
Separate waste charge (new in 2026–27)
$356 for homes on the council's bin service ($421 for commercial)Covers kerbside bin collection, hard waste, new and replacement bins and the state landfill levy. It is not covered by the rate cap and will be reviewed each year. Properties with a private waste service, mostly large apartment buildings, don't pay it. In the budget, total rates and charges rise 5.8%, from $163.5 million (2025–26 forecast) to $172.9 million: general rates fall by $13.8 million and service rates and charges rise by $23.6 million.About the waste charge →
Public Waste Service Rate (new in 2026–27)
0.00003515 × your property's Capital Improved ValuePaid by all rateable properties, for public-place bins and dumped rubbish. The council says that in 2026–27 it is offset by an identical reduction in general rates.
How your general rates are calculated
Capital Improved Value × 0.00125155 (residential)0.00136635 for commercial, industrial and primary production land. For example, a home valued at $1,000,000 pays $1,251.55 in general rates, before other charges. All properties were revalued as at 1 January 2026.
When it's due
4 instalments (30 Sep 2026, 30 Nov 2026, 1 Mar 2027, 31 May 2027), or in full by 15 Feb 2027Or 10 monthly instalments from 1 September 2026 to 1 June 2027. Direct debit can also be set up weekly, fortnightly or monthly.Payment options →
Interest on overdue rates
10% per yearThe council's hardship page gives penalty interest of 10% a year, in line with state law. No interest is charged while you keep to an agreed payment plan (up to 24 months).Payment plans & hardship →
Pensioner concessions
Up to $465.10 in 2026–27For Pensioner Concession Card or DVA Gold Card holders, on your principal place of residence: up to $272.70 off general rates (state), $142.40 off the waste charge (40%, council) and $50 off the ESVF (state). You need to apply. The council's former $50 rates rebate has been folded into the waste charge concession.Concessions →
Safety Net concession
$150 off the waste charge, applied automaticallyFor owner-occupiers whose property's Capital Improved Value is under $600,000, or households in hardship, based on council records at 1 July.
Also on your notice: ESVF
Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund — a state levyThe council collects it for the Victorian Government. It replaced the Fire Services Property Levy in 2025. It isn't council revenue and isn't covered by the rate cap.About the ESVF →

In 2025–26 Monash charged a $65 Recycling and Waste Charge on top of general rates, which still included most waste costs. For 2026–27 that charge ends, general rates fall by 9.1% in total, and the new $356 waste charge and the Public Waste Service Rate are added. So compare your whole notice, not just the general rates line. Figures come from the adopted 2026–27 budget (section 4.1.1) and the council's rates pages.

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.