Moorabbin City Council Approves Property Assessment Cap in 2026-2027 Budget Vote

Moorabbin City Council voted 6-3 on July 7 to cap annual increases in residential property assessments at 2.5 percent for the 2026-2027 fiscal year during its regular meeting at the civic centre.

The decision forms part of the annual budget adoption process and follows public submissions received between May and June on service costs and billing structures.

Projected Changes to Household Outlays

Under the cap, property owners will receive assessment notices in August that reflect the 2.5 percent limit rather than the 4.1 percent average increase applied in the prior cycle, according to the budget papers presented at the meeting. A household with a current annual assessment of 1,240 dollars would face a new bill of 1,271 dollars instead of a higher amount calculated without the cap. Local advocates note that this adjustment applies directly to the general rate component billed quarterly by the council's revenue office.

Council documents list total rate revenue at 48.2 million dollars for the coming year, drawn from 12,400 residential properties and 1,850 commercial sites. The legislation states that the cap excludes separate charges for waste collection and stormwater management, which remain unchanged at 312 dollars and 48 dollars respectively per household.

Next Steps for Implementation

The revenue office will issue revised notices by August 15, with the first quarterly payment due September 30. Policy analysts say residents can request a review of their individual assessment through the existing objection process outlined in the council's rating policy, which requires submission within 60 days of notice receipt. The government says the policy will be reviewed again during the mid-year budget update scheduled for January 2027.