Melbourne councils set for parking revenue windfall after Covid cut income in 2020
Melbourne councils are again set to rake in millions from parking fines after lockdowns crippled coffers. See how much each council expects to reap.
Victoria
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Melbourne councils are set for windfall gains in fees and fines after the pandemic slashed their income last year.
Councils expect to reap $474 million in mainly parking fees and fines in 2021-22 — a 42 per cent hike on the previous year.
City of Melbourne forecasts its revenue from parking and other fees and fines will jump from $66.6 million in 2020-21 to $102.1 million over the next year.
Parking revenue in the inner city was dramatically cut in 2020 due to restricted traffic movements amid long lockdowns.
Yarra, which includes Collingwood and Richmond, has budgeted for almost $31m in fees and fines over the next year, up by $16 million, according to a Herald Sun analysis of draft budget papers.
Port Phillip expects an extra $12 million to $61 million, Stonnington an extra $7 million to $21 million, Moreland up by $5.7 million to $15 million and Hume up by $4 million to $15.5 million.
The 31 metro councils expect a 3.2 per cent lift in rates revenue to $4.54 billion over the next year, the analysis revealed.
Melbourne will get about $328 million, outer southeast Casey will raise $267 million, Wyndham ($208 million) and inner eastern suburbs’ Boroondara ($206 million).
The analysis showed that metro councils will have 25,445 staff in 2021-22, an extra 244 on the previous year.
Employee costs are expected to rise by 4.2 per cent to $2.74 billion, which equals about 60 per cent of rate revenue.
Melbourne’s wages bill will rise by $18 million to $180 million, while in the outer west, Wyndham Council’s bill will increase by $14 million to $167 million and Melton’s by $8.4 million to $69.3 million.
Melbourne expects to have 1494 staff in 2021-22, Wyndham 1515, Casey 1466, Hume 1288, Kingston 926, Brimbank 913, and Boroondara 897.
Many councils are reporting relatively small increases in employees costs, with some others even spending less.
Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston said it seemed that many councils had learnt nothing from the Covid pandemic.
“Councils now just seem to want to gouge their way back to record surpluses while hiring many more staff to yet again likely shuffle more paper,” he said.
“Councils were slammed by the Victorian Ombudsman for not helping enough with ratepayer hardship, but it looks like they have thumbed their nose at the Ombudsman.”
“They are charging more, fining more, yet giving no more guarantee in increased services.”
Among regional councils, Greater Geelong expects to increase rate revenue by $10 million to $268 million, while its staff costs will rise by $10 million to $185 million.
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