Calculation of Rates
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
