Politics
New Farm Council Approves Rates Stabilisation Measure for 2026-27 Budget Year
New Farm households will face no increase in annual council rates beyond inflation under the local policy that takes effect from 1 July 2026.
How we reported this
The New Farm local government has enacted a rates stabilisation measure that caps residential property levies at the projected inflation rate of 2.8 percent for the 2026-27 financial year. The change applies to all 14,200 rateable residential properties within the New Farm jurisdiction and replaces the 4.1 percent rise that appeared in the draft budget released in May.
The measure responds to data in the council's own 2025 household expenditure survey, which showed average weekly outlays on local government services rising faster than wages for the third consecutive year. Policy analysts note that the stabilisation ties directly to the 2026 budget paper line item for general rates revenue, which had been forecast at 48.6 million dollars before the cap was applied.
Direct household budget changes
A single-person household paying the median rates bill of 2,310 dollars will now pay 2,375 dollars instead of the 2,405 dollars originally modelled. For a three-person household at the 75th percentile, the annual saving equals 78 dollars, an amount the legislation states will appear as a credit on the first quarterly instalment due in August. Local advocates note that the adjustment also freezes the separate waste management levy at its current 312 dollars per property.
Businesses operating from residential addresses remain subject to the full commercial rate schedule, which the council document records at 4.9 percent growth. The policy text specifies that any surplus revenue from commercial properties will offset the residential shortfall without drawing on general reserves.
Implementation timeline
Council staff will issue revised rate notices by 15 July 2026, with the first adjusted payment due on 31 August. The legislation requires a mid-year review by 15 December that will compare actual inflation data against the 2.8 percent assumption and adjust the second-half instalments if needed. Residents can access the full policy text and their individual rate calculations through the New Farm council portal starting 10 July.