Politics
Pakenham Local Levy Referendum: October Vote Sets 2027 Rate Changes for Residents
Pakenham property owners will see an added annual charge on their rates notices from July 2027 if the ballot measure passes.
How we reported this
The Pakenham council ballot measure on a community infrastructure levy will go to voters on 15 October 2026. All rateable properties within the Pakenham local government area face the proposed charge if approved, with the measure listed on the same ballot as the regular council elections.
The referendum arises from the council's 2025-26 budget papers, which identified a 4.8 million dollar shortfall in planned road and drainage works over the next five years. Council documents state that existing revenue streams cannot cover the full schedule of projects without an increase in local charges.
When Residents Will See Changes
Property owners will receive the first levy on their 2027-28 rates notice, mailed in June 2027. The charge is set at a flat 145 dollars per residential property and 290 dollars per commercial property, applied after the annual rates calculation. Households with existing council payment plans will see the levy added to their quarterly instalments beginning 1 July 2027.
Local service delivery timelines show that the first projects funded by the levy, including drainage upgrades along the main commercial strip, are scheduled to begin construction in the third quarter of 2027. Residents in affected streets can expect temporary road closures and construction noise during that period, according to the council's project schedule released in May 2026.
Next Steps in the Process
Voters can submit postal ballots from 20 September through 14 October 2026. The council will declare the result within five business days of the close of voting. If the measure receives more than 50 percent support, the levy provisions take effect automatically under the Local Government Act provisions cited in the ballot papers.
Policy analysts note that similar levies in comparable jurisdictions have produced revenue within the first full financial year after approval. The council's forward estimates project collection of 2.1 million dollars in the 2027-28 year if the measure passes.