It is anticipated that rates will be issued in July of every financial year.
Gross Rental Value. This is a valuation forwarded to Council by the Valuer Generals Office and placed against the property. It is worked out by the Valuer General (VG) as an estimate of the amount of rental income that would be received should the property be rented for a twelve month period.
Unimproved Value. This valuation is based in the value of the land, again this valuation is produced by the Valuer Generals Office and forwarded to Council.
For more information on GRV & UV check out the Valuer Generals Website: www.dli.wa.gov.au then click on Property Valuations, then Rating & Taxing Valuations.
Rates are worked out by multiplying the Valuation supplied by the VG, (either GRV or UV) for each property, by the rate-in-the-dollar. The rate-in-the-dollar is set annually by Council at budget time.
Rates are used to build & maintain the Shire's roads, parks, gardens and sporting facilities. They are they are also used to help fund the library, tourism, youth services, volunteer SES, fire brigade and other community projects.
The overdue interest is worked out at 11% per annum calculated on a daily basis. This is only on the rates and ESL components, not on the services.
For example:
If you are a Pension card holder with or without a dependant spouse and have been living at the property you want to claim for since the 1st July of that financial year. You are then entitled to a 50% rebate for the rates portion of you account. For Seniors, it is only 25% with a maximum limit.
I am about to sell my property and there are still rates to be paid – how is this worked out? This is done by your settlement agent at settlement, who will apportion the rates accordingly between the buyer and seller.
The rate year is 1st July to 30th June the same as the financial year.
Any ratepayer that encounters difficulty with the instalment options offered by Council can apply to Council's Rates Department for consideration of an alternative rates payment plan.
Ratepayers who are eligible pensioners or persons who hold a Seniors Card issued by the Office of Seniors Interests and a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card can apply for a rating concession of up to 50% off current rates and ESL. In certain cases, a deferment of current rates may be approved depending on individual circumstances. Persons who hold a Seniors Card issued by the Office of Seniors Interest only can apply for a rating concession of up to 25% to a maximum limit.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for concessions under the Rates abnd Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992, an applicant must:
If you are not registered with Council as an eligible pensioner, and feel that you may be eligible, please contact the Shire's rates section immediately upon receipt of your rates notice, as a registration deadline applies. Rebates apply to current rates only, and not to rubbish collection and other charges, which must be paid in full by the due date shown on this notice.
The ESL is a State Government charge that your Council collects on behalf of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA). All property owners must pay the ESL to help fund the fire and emergency services in Western Australia. Local Government is required to collect the ESL on behalf of the Fire and Emergency Service Authority (FESA) by including it on all Local Government rates notices. Local Government sends all money collected directly to FESA.
The ESL was introduced by the State Government on 1 July 2003, to fund Western Australia’s fire and emergency services. The ESL funds State Government approved operating costs and capital equipment purchases for the Career Fire and Rescue Service; volunteer Fire and Rescue Service; Bush Fire Brigades; State Emergency Service and Multi-service FESA Units.
Operating costs include running and maintaining buildings and vehicles, personal protective equipment and operational consumables. Capital equipment includes firefighting appliances, vehicles and buildings. The ESL also funds training of volunteers, community safety programs, emergency management planning, the Fire and Emergency Service Authority’s (FESA’s) Emergency Management Services and FESA’s corporate support costs.
For further information, please refer to the Emergency Services Levy brochure included with your rate notice or phone 1300 136 099.