Hume City Council has adopted its 2026/27 budget despite acknowledging it is not complying with new Victorian Government guidelines for council service rates and charges.
In a decision passed 7-3 at its June 22 meeting (Cllr Sam Misho did not attend), councillors approved the budget, declaring they had assessed the state’s Good Practice Guidelines for Service Rates and Charges but determined that full compliance would have “significant financial implications” for the municipality.
The council said it may consider a pathway to compliance in future budgets.
The budget will raise about $295 million in rates and charges across the municipality and includes a general rate increase in line with the Victorian Government’s 2.75% rate cap for 2026/27.
For homeowners, rates will continue to be based on the value of their property, with most households also paying separate waste and kerbside collection charges.
A typical residential property valued between $650,000 and $850,000 can expect a total annual rates and waste bill of roughly $2,100 to $2,600, although the amount paid varies depending on individual property valuations.
Council will levy a general rate of 0.21789 cents in the dollar of a property’s capital improved value, while residential properties will also pay a public waste service charge of $306.62 and a kerbside waste service charge of $407.16.
The budget provides funding for council services, infrastructure projects and capital works across Hume, and is expected to generate about $295.1 million in rates and charges revenue during the financial year.
Councillors Carly Moore, Ally Watson, Jarrod Bell, Daniel English, Steve Gagen, Kate Hamley and Karen Sherry voted in favour. Councillors John Haddad, Naim Kurt and Jim Overend voted against the budget.