Liverpool Council’s draft budget papers point to higher rates income for Council, a higher Domestic Waste Management charge, and a range of proposed fee changes for the year ahead.
For households, the issue is how those proposed changes may affect their own costs before Council adopts its final plan.
Council’s draft Long-Term Financial Plan says the 2026-27 budget includes a 4.1% rates income increase, made up of a 3.0% general increase and a 1.1% population growth factor, in line with the IPART determination.
The same draft financial plan says no special rate variation has been included in the 10-year projections.
On waste, the exhibited Draft Revenue Pricing Policy (Fees and Charges) shows the standard annual Domestic Waste Management charge increasing from $670 to $735. That is a $65 increase, or 9.7%.
The combined impact depends on rates, waste charges and the Council fees each household actually uses.
Rates: the 4.1% rates income increase
The draft Long-Term Financial Plan says Council’s 2026-27 budget incorporates a 4.1% rates income increase allowed under IPART’s determination.
It is made up of two parts: a 3.0% general increase and a 1.1% population growth factor.
The population growth factor does not mean every individual ratepayer’s bill rises by exactly that amount. Council rates are affected by several factors, including land values, rating categories, minimum rates and the overall rate structure.
Residents will need to check their own notice when final rates are issued.
Council is budgeting for ordinary rates income to rise in 2026-27.
Waste: the $65 household increase
The main household waste line is the standard annual Domestic Waste Management charge.
The Draft Revenue Pricing Policy (Fees and Charges) lists the annual Domestic Waste Management charge moving from $670 to $735.
That is a $65 increase on the standard annual household waste charge.
Council’s draft plan attributes the increase to a mix of contractor pricing, CPI adjustment, increased household clean-up service and red-bin upgrades.
The related service question is covered in more detail in Local Pulse’s separate waste-package article.
Waste service changes in brief
The exhibited draft package points to waste-service changes including four household clean-ups per year and red-bin upgrades.
The package links the higher charge to extra service capacity.
For this household-cost article, the important point is the charge: the standard annual waste charge is proposed to rise by $65, while the service detail sits in the separate waste-package explainer.
Fees and charges: not just rates and bins
The draft budget package also includes proposed changes to fees and charges.
The Draft Revenue Pricing Policy (Fees and Charges) lists a range of new or increased fees across Council services.
Some are unlikely to affect most households directly. Others may affect residents, families, sporting users, community groups, businesses, developers, drivers or people using Council venues and facilities.
New fees listed in the draft report include Liverpool Powerhouse residency fees, Civic Place venue hire fees, recreation-related fees, food truck placement fees, planning-related fees, development engineering fees, road occupancy fees, and telecommunications-related property fees.
The report also lists a range of notable increases, including items above 5% and/or $100 in several areas.
They include some property services fees, road closure application fees, engineering and subdivision-related fees, and some road and footpath occupancy charges.
For most residents, these fees may not show up in a regular household bill. They can still affect local clubs, community groups, businesses, families and city-centre users.
Higher facility fees may affect community groups.
Higher recreation fees may affect families using Council leisure centres.
Higher development and engineering fees may affect applicants, builders and businesses.
Higher parking and road occupancy fees may affect drivers, contractors and activity in the city centre.
Some costs will appear on household bills. Others will only affect people who use particular Council services, venues, parking, planning or recreation facilities.
Parking and city-centre charges
Parking is one area residents may notice if they regularly use the city centre.
The Draft Revenue Pricing Policy (Fees and Charges) lists increases for Northumberland Street Car Park all-day parking, half-hour on-street parking in Northumberland Serviceway, and on-street parking meters.
The report also lists a significant increase for road and footpath occupancy fees in the Liverpool City Centre.
Those charges may not affect every household. They still matter for people who park in the city centre, run businesses, carry out works, organise events, or need temporary use of public road or footpath space.
What should residents look for?
The 4.1% rates-income figure and the $65 waste increase do not tell the whole household-cost story.
The useful questions are direct:
- How much will my rates change?
- How much will my waste charge change?
- Do I use any Council service where fees are changing?
- Does the waste charge increase align with service changes I will actually use?
- Are the extra household clean-ups useful to me?
- Will red-bin upgrades help larger households or households with higher waste needs?
- Are local parking, recreation or facility fees changing in ways that affect my family, club, business or community group?
- Has Council explained the combined household impact clearly enough?
What Council should explain before adoption
Before adoption, Council should provide a clearer explanation of the average household impact of the draft package.
That explanation should include the ordinary rates increase, the standard Domestic Waste Management charge increase, what the $65 waste increase pays for, which fees are statutory or externally set, which fees are Council-discretionary, and which service improvements residents should expect in return.
The draft documents contain the figures. Residents should not have to piece together the household impact across several separate reports.
That clarity matters before submissions close.
If residents are being asked to comment before the final budget is adopted, they should be able to understand what they may pay and what they may receive in return.
Have your say
Residents can read the draft documents and make a submission through Liverpool Council’s Public Exhibitions and Notices page.
The draft budget is not final yet.
Council still needs to consider public submissions before adoption.
For households, the test is whether the proposed increases are clear, justified and matched by services residents can see or use.
Source: Liverpool City Council Public Exhibitions and Notices page; Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029; Draft Operational Plan 2026-2027; Long-Term Financial Plan 2027-2036; Draft Revenue Pricing Policy (Fees and Charges); Liverpool Rating Category Map; and 18 May 2026 CORP 05 addendum report.
