Templestowe City Council Adopts 2026-27 Budget with Rates Adjustment Effective January 2027

The Templestowe City Council voted 8-3 on 7 July to pass the 2026-27 annual budget, which sets a 2.8 percent rise in general rates starting 1 January 2027.

The measure updates the property levy formula used since the 2022 revaluation cycle and follows the May release of draft figures that projected higher maintenance expenses for roads and drainage.

Timeline for Rate Notices and Service Changes

Property owners will see the adjusted amount on notices posted in the first week of December 2026, covering the January to March quarter. Payments remain due on the same quarterly schedule already in place, with the first instalment due 28 February 2027. Local advocates note that the increase applies uniformly across residential, commercial and industrial categories listed in the rating strategy adopted last year.

The budget document allocates $4.2 million from the rates rise to road resurfacing projects on Templestowe Road and High Street, with work scheduled to begin in March 2027 and finish by June 2028. A separate $1.1 million line item funds drainage upgrades along the river corridor, expected to reduce minor flooding reports that averaged 47 incidents per year between 2023 and 2025.

Budget Figures and Next Steps

Under the adopted figures the median residential property valued at $620,000 will face an additional $180 annually once the full increase is applied. The council treasurer stated during the meeting that these amounts are calculated from the capital improved value data supplied by the state valuation office in April 2026.

Staff will now prepare implementation guidelines for the new rates system by September, followed by a public information session in October at the Templestowe Community Centre. The next formal review of the rating strategy is listed for the 2028-29 budget cycle.