Council adopted the 2025-26 budget at its meeting last night, which includes a modest rate rise of 1.9 per cent for the fourth year in a row.
The minimum rate remains unchanged at $1190, maintaining the same level since the 2019-2020 budget, despite significant inflation during this period.
Mayor David McMullen said, “For four years in a row now, the City of Subiaco has maintained a modest 1.9 per cent rates increase annually - the cumulatively lowest of any Metropolitan Local Government over that period. This is despite significant inflation, and mounting costs pressure due to economic factors which sit outside of local governments’ control.
“The 2025-26 budget adopted by Council will enable ongoing high standards of service delivery and amenity for our community, ensuring our City continues to thrive.
“The City has responsibly balanced income and expenditure, remaining ever mindful of household budget pressures. We are conscious of the need to continue to demonstrate value to our ratepayers; and we will do this in the coming financial year.”
This year’s budget includes an unavoidable 4.3 per cent increase in waste services fees due to waste transport, processing and infrastructure costs. As a result, the standard annual residential waste service charge will be $408.
A 50 per cent discount on waste service chargers will be automatically applied for pensioners who are registered with the City for a full rebate on rates and charges at 1 July 2025.
Overall, and including projected increases to the Emergency Services Levy (ESL), the minimum rate notice will increase by 1.5 per cent (or $0.53) per week, and the average rate notice will increase by 2.6 per cent (or $1.43) per week. Local governments are required to collect this levy on behalf of the State Government to fund fire and emergency services across Western Australia.
Key priorities within this year’s budget include:
Delivering the first year of the City’s inaugural Council Plan - which includes projects across four pillars; connected community; flourishing environment; thriving economy; and liveable places,
The final phase of the City’s digital transformation, which will expand digital access to City services,
A vibrant calendar of festivals, events, and public art.
The budget also includes a $22.2 million capital works program which will fund important renewal, upgrade and new asset development projects including: the refurbishment of the Shenton Park Community Centre; construction of the new Rupert Street Pocket Park; progress on the Rokeby Road South Streetscape; and a range of street greening initiatives, laneway amenity improvements, road safety improvements, footpath and cycle path upgrades, and playground renewals.
This year there will be a one-off change to the timing of rate notices for City of Subiaco ratepayers as we transition to a new software system to support a better experience for our customers. Rate Notices will be received in October 2025 (instead of July), with annual rate payments and the first instalment of quarterly rate payments due by November 2025.
For more information, please visit www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/rates, and stay tuned on the City’s website and Facebook page.
