Improving the City's Rating System

Blue Mountains City Council has responsibility for ensuring that its rating structure meets the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act). These requirements include that the rating system is simple, fair and broadly uniform and is compliant with the Act. As a means of improving response to these requirements the Council is proposing to reform to its rating structure over a period of three years.

This reform was endorsed for public display at the Council meeting of 23 April 2012 as part of the Draft 2012-2013 Operation Plan from 26 April 2012 to 23 May 2012.

Information on the two rating options proposed under the reform is available in the fact sheet that can be  downloaded at right or is available in hardcopy from branch libraries or the counters at the Katoomba and Springwood offices.

Importantly, the proposal will not increase the Council's revenue from rates (this can only be increased by a set amount each year as directed by the NSW Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal). The proposed changes only affect how rates are calculated and distributed across the City.

Ratepayers can obtain an indication of rates for 2012-2013 under the proposal using the calculators available on the Council’s website (www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au). As well, ratepayers can receive an indication of rates for each year of the proposal by a written request sent to the Council’s email (council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au) or by post to Locked Bag 1005, Katoomba NSW 2780. Please supply your property’s assessment number and address and mark the request as “Rating Reform Proposal Rates Estimation”. 

Public comment on the proposal is invited until 5pm, 23 May 2012. Submissions can be made using the Submission tab on this site or a form in Word can be downloaded from the library at right.