Council ‘to battle government over power to vary rates bills’

By John Van Klaveren
GEELONG’S council will fight a push to limit municipal powers for setting differential rates, Mayor John Mitchell has vowed.
“We should be able to have differential rates but other people have different opinions,” Cr Mitchell said.
“Why should property owners in Whittington, Corio or even Newtown pay the same as a large corporate that has greater ability to pay? We believe differential rates are the right way to go and we’ll lobby to retain them.”
Differential rates are higher or lower variations on standard rates depending on land use, such as farming, commercial, industrial or vacant land.
Victorian Local Government Association has revealed State Government plans to introduce new guidelines controlling differential rates, including power to revoke them.
Municipal rating policies show farmers would pay higher rates while businesses would pay less.
City of Greater Geelong chief Stephen Griffin said the municipality had a diverse mix of geographical and varying land-use properties.
“Valuation methodology is not necessarily consistent between differing land use property types,” Mr Griffin said.
“Differential rates can provide a more equitable spread of the rating burden.”
Golden Plains and Surf Coast shires also have differential rates.
Golden Plains’ rates policy said farmers would pay an average of $663 more on a standard rate.
“If differential rates were removed the overall amount raised would stay the same but farm rates would rise 29 per cent while vacant land rates would reduce by 46 per cent.”
Surf Coast charges farms at 85 per cent of the general rate, commercial and tourism businesses at 190 per cent and vacant residential land at 120 per cent.
“These different rates reflect council’s expenditure in these sectors,” Surf Coast’s policy statement said. By John Van Klaveren
Geelong’s council will fight a push to limit municipal powers for setting differential rates, Mayor John Mitchell has vowed.
“We should be able to have differential rates but other people have different opinions,” Cr Mitchell said.
“Why should property owners in Whittington, Corio or even Newtown pay the same as a large corporate that has greater ability to pay? We believe differential rates are the right way to go and we’ll lobby to retain them.”
Differential rates are higher or lower variations on standard rates depending on land use, such as farming, commercial, industrial or vacant land.
Victorian Local Government Association has revealed State Government plans to introduce new guidelines controlling differential rates, including power to revoke them.
Municipal rating policies show farmers would pay higher rates while businesses would pay less.
City of Greater Geelong chief Stephen Griffin said the municipality had a diverse mix of geographical and varying land-use properties.
“Valuation methodology is not necessarily consistent between differing land use property types,” Mr Griffin said.
“Differential rates can provide a more equitable spread of the rating burden.”
Golden Plains and Surf Coast shires also have differential rates.
Golden Plains’ rates policy said farmers would pay an average of $663 more on a standard rate.
“If differential rates were removed the overall amount raised would stay the same but farm rates would rise 29 per cent while vacant land rates would reduce by 46 per cent.”
Surf Coast charges farms at 85 per cent of the general rate, commercial and tourism businesses at 190 per cent and vacant residential land at 120 per cent.
“These different rates reflect council’s expenditure in these sectors,” Surf Coast’s policy statement said.