The council has voted to increase rates for the fourth consecutive year. Photo Credit: Ben Baumann

Council rates will be increasing for City of Melville residents for a fourth consecutive year, as the council votes to raise the tax while not releasing the data to back the decision.

The vote held at a special meeting last Tuesday, saw all councillors vote in favour of increasing rates, a move that adds 5 per cent to the cost of improved residential and commercial properties and 8 per cent on unimproved properties.

The City of Melville has said that the rising rates are in response to general economic pressures, but declined to comment further at this time.

“The City is mindful of balancing the community’s capacity to pay and cost of living pressures with ensuring the City’s long term financial sustainability,” according to council’s May minutes.

Some residents criticised council’s decision to announce the rate rise before releasing the 2024-25 financial year data and a touted review of services aimed at finding savings for the city.

“Are these spending decisions actually based on the City’s real demand needs,” asked Tracy Perth on a community produced City of Melville Facebook page.

Since 2022, rates have increased by approximately 20 per cent for residential properties and approximately 25 per cent for commercial properties, with the average household paying $2,077 a year in rates.

This average is set to increase to $2,214 for the 2026-27 financial year.

Multiple circumstances have raised costs for the city in recent months, most notably Councillor Tomas Fitzgerald’s resignation costing an estimated $80,000 due to the extraordinary election required to fill his vacancy for the Palmyra-Melville-Willagee Ward.

Councillor Michael McGoldrick, who won the election, said he supports the rate rise to help alleviate general costs for residents feeling the strain.

According to data from My Council, the City of Melville has consistently been raising rates higher than the state average, as well other surrounding areas such as the cities of East Fremantle and Canning, leaving residents puzzled as to how long this trend will continue.

The City of Melville 2026-27 Annual Budget will be finalised next month.