This letter in today’s Examiner has been drawn to the attention of Launceston City Council's General Manager along with the Mayor and Aldermen. The writer, Mr Frank Deane, is a respected expert in valuation procedures in Tasmania. He worked for the state valuation office until he retired.If Mr Deane is correct in his assessment of the situation in respect to valuations used to strike rates in Tasmania, then it is an imperative that every Council using the AAV system – Assessed Annual Value system – to strike a rate should thoroughly investigate the methods they are using to strike this year’s rates.
However, ratepayers need to test the veracity of the valuation upon which their rate has been struck for themselves. Mr Deane offers very good advice it would seem. Ratepayers would be well advised to act upon his advice – even those who do not get to read The Examiner.
Council officers may not welcome the fact that this advice has been offered but ratepayers need to satisfy themselves that they are at least paying their rates on the appropriate valuation for their property.
2 comments:
Launceston Council has just approved a rate rise of 5.5% yet their workload has decreased by a substantial amount due to the removal of their water and sewerage role. In the Council summary of estimates, that was reported to lead to a reduction in workload to the Council worth around $25 million - a potential workload reduction of about 20%.
So how is it possible for less work to require so much more money that we need to increase rates by 5.5%?
Since water charges have also increased, where does Council think that we are going to get the money?
Constant increases in rates and charges without commensurate savings are simply unaffordable.
Brighton Council has kept rates at CPI for 15 years in a row. Brighton Council provides a flat rate for all residential properties although the rate is discounted to 3 suburbs that are predominately Housing dept areas. The maximum any residential property pays for its general rate is $780.00
The total rate paid in each commercial sector is also linked to CPI.
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