Vic: Council rates to rise: report

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2003
Vic: Council rates to rise: report

Victorians reportedly face large increases in council rates this year to cover a string
of financial disasters that have hit the state's municipalities -- including a $114 million
superannuation black hole.

According to The Age, home owners and businesses have been warned to expect rate increases
of more than 5 per cent for the 2003-04 financial year in most regions, and rises could
exceed 10 per cent in some.

Municipal Association of Victoria chief executive ROB SPENCE reportedly says councils
are facing their toughest financial year since he entered local government in the 1980s.





He says the unforseen costs include a superannuation shortfall caused by a 35 per cent
collapse in international share prices.

Other expenses include an expected 30 per cent rise in public liability insurance,
a minimum 17 per cent increase in metropolitan fire levies, and a large bill to meet new
WorkCover rules on garbage and aged-care workers.

AAP RTV ag/rt

KEYWORD: RATES (MELBOURNE)

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