Rates

This is a summary version of the Formal Rating Policy included in the Annual Business Plan adopted by the Council. The complete policy statement is available on request at the Council Office. The Council's budget and other strategic documents are available here or for inspection at the Council Office.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Any queries in relation to this summary or requests for additional information regarding rates payments, remissions or objections should be directed to our Rates Officer, telephone 8551 0500, unless otherwise indicated.

STRATEGIC FOCUS

In setting its rates for the 2012/13 financial year the Council has considered its strategic plan, the current economic climate, the specific issues faced by our community, the budget for the 2012/13 financial year and the impact of rates on the community.

BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT

The Council has considered the impact of rates on all businesses in the Council area, including primary production. In considering the impact, Council assessed:- consultations with business and farming groups; those elements of the Council's strategic management plans relating to business development; the equity of the distribution of the rate burden between ratepayers; Council's policy on facilitating local economic development; current local, state and national economic conditions; changes in the valuation of business and primary production properties; and specific Council projects for the coming year, specific infrastructure maintenance issues that will solely or principally benefit businesses and primary producers and the profile of businesses including size, range, type and level of employment provided.

Also see Calculation of Rates, Rate Payments, Late / Non Payment of Rates and Valuations & Objections.

FURTHER INFORMATION

STRATEGIC FOCUS

BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT

Also see Calculation of Rates, Rate Payments, Late / Non Payment of Rates and Valuations & Objections.

METHOD USED TO VALUE LAND

All land within the Council area, except for land specifically exempt (e.g. crown land and Council occupied land), is rateable. The City of Victor Harbor has decided to continue to use capital value as the basis for valuing land within the Council area. The Council considers that this method of valuing provides the fairest method of distributing the rate burden across all ratepayers.

The Council has adopted the valuations made by the SA Valuer-General as provided to the Council on 9th July 2012. If you are dissatisfied with a property valuation then an objection may be made to the Valuer-General in writing, within 60 days of receiving the notice of the valuation (the first rates notice), explaining the basis for the objection - provided you have not: (a) previously received a notice of this valuation under the Local Government Act 1999, in which case the objection period is 60 days from the receipt of the first notice; or (b) previously had an objection to the valuation considered by the Valuer-General. This 60 day objection period may be extended by the Valuer-General where it can be shown there is reasonable cause. The address of the Valuer-General is: State Valuation Office, GPO Box 1354, Adelaide SA 5001, email: lsg.objections@saugov.sa.gov.au and the telephone number is 1300 653 345. The Council has no role in this process. It is important to note that the lodgment of an objection does not change the due date for payment of rates.

DIFFERENTIAL GENERAL RATES AND FIXED CHARGE

At its meeting of 9th July 2012 the Council decided to raise $15.9 million rate revenue in a total revenue budget of $20.13 million. The Council has resolved to impose differential general rates based on the following land use categories : Residential - 0.3345 cents in the dollar, Commercial-Shop - 0.4349 cents in the dollar, Commercial-Office - 0.4349 cents in the dollar, Commercial-Other - 0.4349 cents in the dollar, Industry-Light - 0.3847 cents in the dollar, Industry-Other - 0.3847 cents in the dollar, Primary Production - 0.2927 cents in the dollar, Vacant Land - 0.4683 cents in the dollar, Other - 0.3345 cents in the dollar. The differential rates will have regard to the range of services provided, the standard of those services, whether there are any specific budget expenses which may be unique to or benefit a specific land use and new initiatives which may target a specific sector or sectors.

Council has established a reserve fund for the purpose of delivering new and expanded promotional and economic development initiatives. Contributions to the fund, anticipated to be about $230,000 in total, will be generated by a higher differential rate on Commercial and Industrial Land Use categories, as opposed to other Land Use categories. It is generally acknowledged that primary production or rural land has access to a lesser range of services than properties within other land use categories and that the differential of service should be reflected in the rate in the dollar applied. Council also considers that vacant land creates a significant holding cost relating to constructed infrastructure, and seeks to encourage infill development to contain our environmental footprint.

A Council may impose a fixed charge on every property in its area, provided that it has not imposed a minimum rate. Where two or more adjoining properties have the same owner and the same occupier, or where there is a single farm enterprise comprising more than one property, only one fixed charge is payable by the ratepayer.

The Council has imposed a fixed charge on rateable properties of $310.00.

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (NRM) LEVY

An NRM levy has been introduced which consolidates a number of previous costs associated with animal and plant control, water management, soils management, revegetation, etc. Council has resolved to impose a separate rate pursuant to Section 95 of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 and Section 154 of the Local Government Act 1999. The rate will be based on the capital value of rateable properties located within the area of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board - 0.00916 cents in the dollar and SA Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board - 0.0111 cents in the dollar. Please note Council is the collection agency only for this State Government levy. For more information about the NRM Levy or the projects it funds please contact the NRM Board relevant to your property.

Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board - phone (08) 8273 9100

Murray Darling Basin NRM Board - phone (08) 8532 9100

The Council has resolved that the payment of rates can be paid by one single payment due on the 8th September 2011, or by quarterly instalments on the 8^h September 2011, 8^th December 2011, 8^th March 2012 and the 8^th June 2012.

Rates may be paid:

By using BPAY with participating financial institutions. Please ensure you enter the Council's Biller Code 918532 and your Billing Number when using the BPAY facilities.
Pay Rates or Debtors On-Line
By post with all cheques or money orders made payable to the City of Victor Harbor, or by completing the credit card details at the bottom of the rate notice.
In person at the Council office, during the hours of 9.00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. Please note that EFTPOS facilities are available at the Council Office.
By Centrepay, whereby ratepayers who receive Centrelink benefits can have regular deductions taken out of their benefits to pay Council rates directly. Please contact Centrelink for details.
At any Australia Post Office

Any ratepayer who may, or is likely to, experience difficulty with meeting the standard payment arrangements is invited to contact the Council to discuss alternative payment arrangements. Such enquiries are treated confidentially.
Rates Payment Arrangement Application Form Rates%20Payment%20Arrangement%20Application%20Form (27 kb)

PENSIONER CONCESSIONS

You may be eligible for a council rate concession if you are a pensioner nad have a current Pension Concession Card or Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA) Gold Card (TPI, EDA, WW) or receive a Centrelink allowance. Apply through the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) Concession Hotline 1800 307 758 or at www.sa.gov.au/concessions using the online form. It is important to note that seeking a remission does not change the due date for the payment of Council rates

SELF FUNDED RETIREES

This concession is administered by Revenue SA. If you are a self funded retiree and currently hold a State Seniors Card you may be eligible for a concession toward Council rates. In the case of couples, both must qualify, or if only one holds a State Seniors Card, the other must not be in paid employment for more than 20 hours per week. If you have not received a concession on your rates notice or would like further information please contact the Revenue SA Call Centre on 1300 366 150.

OTHER CONCESSIONS

The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DSCI) administers Council rate concessions available to a range of eligible persons receiving State and Commonwealth allowances. You may be eligable for a council rate concession if you are a low income earner who meets the DFC low income threashold. Apply through the DSCI Concessions Hotline 1800 307 758. for more information visit www.sa.gov.au/concessions.

REBATE (RATE CAPPING)

Council recognises that hardship can result from the imposition of substantial increases in Council rates. Applications for a rebate on rates will be received and considered where the increase in rates levied upon a property exceed the 2010/2011 rates levied by more than 15%. Such rebates will only apply to residential properties that have not been subject to improvements since 1^st January, 2010 and that have been the ratepayer's principal place of residence since the 1^st January, 2010. Application forms are available from the Council office.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR OWNERSHIP

Please advise Council, in writing, immediately if your details have changed, by clicking here or email: localgov@victor.sa.gov.au.

Alteration to Council Assessment Record Form Change%20of%20Address%20Form (36 kb)

The Local Government Act provides that Councils impose an initial fine of 2% on any payment for rates, whether by quarterly instalment or otherwise, that is received late. A payment that continues to be late is then charged a prescribed interest rate on the expiration of each month that it continues to be late. For the 2012/13 financial year this prescribed rate is 0.7083% per month.

The Council may issue a Final Warning letter when rates have been overdue for at least three consecutive quarters. Should rates remain unpaid for more than 21 days after the issue of the notice, the Council may refer the debt to a debt collection agency for collection. The debt collection fees and legal costs are recoverable from the ratepayer.

SALE OF LAND FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RATES

The Local Government Act provides that a Council may sell any property where the rates have been in arrears for three years or more. The Council is required to notify the owner of the land of its intention to sell the land if payment of the outstanding amount is not received within one month, and provide the owner with details of the outstanding amounts. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the Council enforces the sale of land for arrears of rates.

REMISSION AND POSTPONEMENT OF RATES

The Local Government Act permits a Council, on the application of a ratepayer, to partially or wholly remit rates or to postpone rates, on the basis of hardship. Where a ratepayer is suffering hardship in paying rates he/she is invited to contact the Council to discuss the matter. Such matters are treated confidentially by the Council.

RATES POSTPONEMENT (STATE SENIORS CARD HOLDERS)

Ratepayers who hold a State Seniors Card are now able to apply to Council to postpone payment of Council rates on their principal place of residence. Conditions apply - Application forms and further information are available from the Council office.

REBATE OF RATES

The Local Government Act requires Councils to rebate the rates payable on some land. Specific provisions are made for land used for health services, community services, religious purposes, public cemeteries and educational institutions. The Council in accordance with the Act may apply discretionary rebates.

OBJECTION TO VALUATION

To object to your property valuation please visit http://www.landservices.sa.gov.au/1Public/Property_Values_and_Sales/ValuationObjection.asp and download the appropriate form. A written objection of valuation must set out the grounds for objection. Objections are to be forwarded to:

The State Valuation Office,
GPO Box 1354, Adelaide SA 5001
(2nd Floor, 101 Grenfell St, Adelaide SA 5000),
Phone 1300 653 345
Fax: 08 8226 1428
Email: lsgobjections@sa.gov.au

Disclaimer

A rate cannot be challenged on the basis of non-compliance with this policy and rates must be paid in accordance with the required payment provisions.

OBJECTION TO LAND USE

Differential General Rates imposed by the Council are based on various Land Use Categories. Should you have any reason to believe that the Land Use Category applied to your property is incorrect, you may lodge a written objection with Council outlining the grounds upon which your objection is based (forms are available from the Council office or click here). Objections must be submitted to Council within 60 days of receiving your first quaterly rates notice.

Rates are still due and payable by the due date even if an objection has been lodged.

Land Use Description Objection Form Land%20Use%20Description%20Objection%20Form (83 kb)