A record 26,903 rate notices have been posted and should start landing in mail boxes across Tamworth Regional Council – and wider afield – from today.
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And while the council says the average residential rates bill for a Tamworth property is up about $67 from last year – there will be many who might see a decrease in their annual rate notice.
The largest bill has gone to a Tamworth business property, believed to be a large retail centre, and is for $84,344, while the littlest bill is for a Limbri farmland block and is set at $283.
The council says new land valuations carried out in the Tamworth Regional Council area last year mean some ratepayers will receive a rates bill less than the one they had last year, while some will have next to no change in the amount they need to pay and some will pay more.
A total of 26,903 rates notices went out in Friday’s post, expected to return something like $58.5million in income from rates and annual charges.
TRC general manager Paul Bennett said that while it was usual for rates and charges to rise each year at a level set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), the new land valuations mean there is more variation to the bottom line for ratepayers this year.
He said IPART this year set the maximum increase for general rate income at 2.3 per cent.
However, annual charges for water, sewerage, trade waste and waste management services will increase by 2.6 per cent for the next year, and consumption charges for water use will also increase by 2.6 per cent.
General manager Bennett said the new land valuations have no effect on any council’s total rate income but can change how much each individual property contributes.
“Whether an individual’s rates bill increases or decreases as a result of a revaluation will depend on their land’s change in value in comparison to the average of all other valuation changes within the same rating category,” Mr Bennett said.
“If the value of a parcel of land increases substantially more than other land in the same category, the rates bill will rise by more than 2.3 percent. If the value drops significantly more in comparison to the rest of the same category, the rates bill may rise by less than 2.3 percent or may even drop.”
TRC’s total operating income for the this financial year is $125,750,155 with 46.5 per cent or $58.493 million provided by income from rates and annual charges. Most rate notices should be received by property owners by Wednesday, along with a ratepayers’ newsletter which includes information about the land revaluation, the TRC budget and major capital projects planned for the coming year.
Mr Bennett said anyone needing help to understand their rates notice should call TRC on 1300 733 625.
Rates can be paid in full or by instalment, with the first rate instalment due August 31 and the council has a range of payment options, including by direct debit, bPay, telephone banking or in person at any of offices at Barraba, Manilla, Nundle and Tamworth or at Australia Post.
Mr Bennett said TRC also had a ratepayer hardship policy which can be accessed confidentially by anyone experiencing financial hardship.
AT A GLANCE
* 4713 properties get pensioner rebates worth a total of $1,840,544.
* Pensioner rebates are down about $8000 from last year.
* 22,760 notices are mailed to Tamworth region postcodes.
* 4141 notices are mailed to 839 different postcodes outside Tamworth region.
* The largest rates bill is for $84,344.98 for a Tamworth business property.
* The smallest notice issued is $282.82 for a farmland block at Limbri.
* The average Tamworth residential rates bill total (including services) is $2391 – up $67 from last year.
* The average Barraba residential notice (including services) is $1776, in Manilla. $1770, in Moonbi or Kootingal $1709 and in the villages $1761.
* The average Tamworth business property rates bill total (including services) is $5227.
* The average business rate notice in Barraba is $2241, in Manilla $2279, in Moonbi or Kootingal $1986 and in the villages $1837.
* Nearly 3000 farmland rate notices are issued and the average notice is $1935.