Meeting papers

Special and Separate Rates and Charges

Where appropriate Council will fund certain services, facilities or activities by means of
separate or special rates or charges.

In accordance with section 94 of the Regulation, Council will levy special rates or charges
on certain properties where:
    •   the land or its occupier specially benefits from a Council service, facility or activity,
        or has had, or will have, special access to the service, facility or activity;
    •   the land is or will be used in a way that specially contributes to the need for the
        service, facility or activity; or
    •   the occupier of the land specially contributes to the need for the service, facility or
        activity.

Special rates are based on the rateable value of the land and special charges are a flat
charge per property, where this is considered to provide a more equitable basis for the
sharing of the cost.

However, the amount of the special rate or charge for the particular rateable land may
differ from the amount for other rateable land if, in Council’s opinion the special benefit
from, or the special contribution to the need for the service, facility or activity differs
between the parcels.

In accordance with section 103 of the Regulation, Council will levy a separate rate or
charge on all rateable land in the region to fund a particular service, facility or activity
where Council believes that the service, facility or activity is benefits all land in the region
generally and is key in achieving Council’s vision for the region.

Other Charges

In general, Council will be guided by the principle of user pays in making all other charges
for the supply of a particular service.

The Making and Levying of Rates and Charges

In making and levying rates and charges, Council will apply the principles of:
    •   equitable distribution, of the general rates burden as broadly as possible
    •   transparency, in the making and levying of rates
    •   clarity by providing meaningful information on rate notices to enable ratepayers to
        clearly understand their responsibilities
    •   simplicity by having in place a rating regime that is efficient to administer
    •   consistency, by scheduling the issue of rate notices on a regular basis
    •   communication, by advising ratepayers about rate notice issue dates and discount
        dates
    •   fiscal responsibility, to ensure sufficient funds are levied to meet Council budgetary
        requirements
    •   flexibility, by providing payment arrangements to ratepayers in financial difficulty,
        along with a wide array of payment option




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