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Consultation has concluded
The Public Exhibition period for your comments and submissions on the Rating Review has been extended until 5pm Friday 6 May 2011.
Council is in the process of reviewing its existing Rating Structure (ie. the system used to calculate the rates payable for Residential, Business and Farmland properties) and is proposing a new rating structure, commencing 2011-2012, that is:
A simpler structure; and
A fairer and more equitable structure overall, with all ratepayers paying their fair share.
Importantly, the proposed changes will not increase the Council's revenue from rates (this can only be increased by a set amount each yearContinue reading
The Public Exhibition period for your comments and submissions on the Rating Review has been extended until 5pm Friday 6 May 2011.
Council is in the process of reviewing its existing Rating Structure (ie. the system used to calculate the rates payable for Residential, Business and Farmland properties) and is proposing a new rating structure, commencing 2011-2012, that is:
A simpler structure; and
A fairer and more equitable structure overall, with all ratepayers paying their fair share.
Importantly, the proposed changes will not increase the Council's revenue from rates (this can only be increased by a set amount each year as directed by the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal of NSW). The proposed changes only affect how rates are calculated and distributed across the City. This review is required to be undertaken by Council to ensure ongoing compliance with the Local Government Act 1993.
Council is inviting your views on the proposed changes to the rating structure, including:
The categories and sub-categories in which properties will be categorised
The method for calculating rates
The proportion of rates paid by Residential, Business and Farmland categories and the sub-categories within the Residential category.
A Public Exhibition of the proposed new structure will be held from 25 March to 6 May 2011 with submissions on the proposal accepted until 5pm Friday, 6 May 2011. The Council encourages comments on the proposed new rating structure which, if adopted, will be the basis of your rates into the future.
Even if the proposed changes mean that your rates will decrease (as many rates will) and you agree with the proposal, it is important to let the Council know you agree so that this view point is taken into equal consideration.
Following the public exhibition process, the Council will consider the submissions received and only then will decide on whether or not to adopt the proposal.
Further information about the proposed new rating structure is available in the FAQ and supporting documents which can be accessed at the right of this page.
The proposed new rating structure means all businesses across the Blue Mountails will pay the same rate-in-the-dollar and the proportion of overall rates contributed by businesses is transparent.
Under the current structure, businesses would contribute 6.79% of total rates revenue in 2011-2012, however businesses received the benefit of almost 9% of the Council's expenditure in 2010-2011. It is proposed to increase the contribution of rate revenue to approximately 9.5% which is better aligned with their use of Council provided services and facilities.
Depending on location, the majority of businesses will pay more rates, many others however will receive a reduction in rates.
Average annual resident rates will go down by approximately $39 and many will go down as much as $400. However, depending on where you live, a small percentage of residents will experience an increase in their rates.
Importantly, the proposed new rating structure only changes the distribution of rates across the City, it does not increase revenue from rates for the Council.
