The City of Stonnington calculates the value on your rates bill using the following formula:
General rates + Waste charges (if applicable) + Emergency Services Volunteers Fund Levy = Total rates bill
We calculate general rates for your property by multiplying your property's Capital Improved Value (CIV) and a rate in the dollar amount declared by Council.
Please note: The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund is a charge that Council collects on behalf of the State government – it does not contribute to Council revenue.
What is the Capital Improved Value?
Capital Improved Value (CIV) is the total market value of a property – including the land and any buildings or improvements.
It’s the most common valuation method across Victorian councils, with more than 90% using this approach to calculate rates. Property owners generally understand CIV, as it reflects the likely sale price of a property at a specific point in time.
For business properties, CIV is typically assessed using the capitalisation method – an industry-standard approach based on market rent and recent property sales.
Who determines the Capital Improved Value?
Valuers contracted by the Victorian Valuer-General conduct property valuations each year. They determine the CIV used to calculate your general rate.
What is the rate in the dollar?
The rate in the dollar is an amount set by Council to fund works and services.
The 2025/26 rate in the dollar is 0.0010342.
What's an example of a rate calculation?
If we valued your property at $800,000, your general rates would be $827.36 based on the 2025/26 rate in the dollar.
The equation would look like this:
$800,000 (Capital Improved Value) X 0.0010342 (rate in the dollar) = $827.36 (general rates).
Are there charges in addition to general rates?
Yes, you will also see on your rates notice:
Annual waste charges
Your waste charge covers the costs of:
- litter management
- street sweeping
- public place litter and recycling bins
- waste education
- hard and bundled green waste services
- transfer station costs not covered by gate fees
- shared costs of processing recyclables and organics
- waste services administration.
All community members benefit directly or indirectly from these council activities.
For 2025/26, the minimum charges are:
- $362 for waste services
- $90 for food and green waste services.
Two Recycling bins are supplied at no charge.
For more information, view the Waste collection fees and charges policy 2025(PDF, 759KB).
Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund
From 1 July 2025, the Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) will be replaced by the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF).
It will help support a broader range of emergency services and for the first time include VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria, the State Control Centre, Forest Fire Management Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria, as well as the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).
This will bring Victoria’s funding arrangements for emergency services into line with most other states.
Council is not responsible for this fund or setting the amount payable however it is required to collect it on behalf of the State Government.
The levy appears on your rates notice but it is not included as Council revenue.
Property owners who already receive a municipal concession will automatically receive the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund concession.
For information on applying for the volunteers rebate please visit Eligible Volunteers Rebate Scheme
Further information regarding the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund can be found by visiting State Revenue Office - ESVF.
What if I don’t agree with my property valuation?
You can lodge an objection with Council.
What do my rates pay for?
Your rates go towards all sorts of services, infrastructure and maintenance in your community.
For every $100 of your rates we spend, this is the amount we allocate to each main area we're responsible for:
- Capital works: $20.43
- Programs for families: $1.93
- Community Programs: $5.68
- Waste Services: $8.73
- Open space and environment: $5.59
- Events, public art and business support: $6.99
- Town Planning: $5.97
- Infrastructure, transport and city operations: $16.17
- Council buildings and property: $4.04
- Community sport, recreation and pools: $4.50
- Improving customer experience: $8.66
- Governance and administration: $10.52
- Public Health and Immunisation: $0.79