Understanding your rates

Council calculates your rate charge by multiplying two figures:

• Capital Improved Value (CIV)(from your property valuation)
• a rate in the dollar amount set by Council

Council uses differential rating to ascertain the rate in the dollar. Differential rating is used to maintain fairness and relative consistency in the distribution of rates between property classes.

The land types and their corresponding rates in the dollar amounts are:

Properties classified as tourism, commercial and industrial in the declared area of the towns of Swan Hill and Lake Boga pay the special rate.

Funds raised through the special rate are used by Swan Hill Incorporated to promote the Swan Hill region as a place to live, work, visit and shop.

Swan Hill Incorporated is governed by a local board and three sub-committees who carry out activities. This includes television and print advertising, shop local campaigns, professional development, business forums, local festivals and events, and promoting the region at consumer trade shows.

The special rate categories are:

This charge is collected by Council to manage waste, including recycling, green waste and landfill. Every property with a habitable dwelling in the garbage service collection area are required to pay a garbage collection charge.

• Request a change to your bin service

This is a State Government charge used to fund fire services in Victoria.

The levy has two parts:

• a fixed fee
• a variable fee calculated on your property's classification and capital improved value (CIV)

Exemption

You can apply for an exemption if you own or occupy multiple parcels of farmland which are used for a single farm enterprise. Eligible single farm enterprises may only need to pay the fixed charge once for the farm property. 

Apply for an exemption

Visit the State Revenue Office website for more information about the Fire Services Property Levy.