WIMMERA councils have divided their rates charges differently across different sectors.
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The Wimmera Mail-Times takes a closer look at how the rate burden will affect residents in 2018-2019.
Horsham Rural City Council’s farm sector will pay $6.1 million in rate revenue, equating to a $645,833 rate rise. The commercial sector will pay $1.6 million, receiving a rate rise of $103,387; while the industrial sector will pay $822,583, with a rate increase of $18,773.
The residential sector will pay $11.6 million, receiving a rate decrease of $67,673.
The farm sector will pay 92 per cent of the rate revenue increase of $699,000 with the commercial and industrial sectors footing the balance. The residential and culture sectors will not contribute to the rate revenue rise because its rates were reduced.
Northern Grampians Shire’s residential sector will foot $7.4 million in rate revenue, while the farm sector will pay $4.3 million.
The commercial sector will pay $947,000, the industrial sector will pay $341,000 and the recreational sector will pay $14,000.
The residential sector will pay 51.1 per cent of the shire’s total rate revenue and the farming sector will pay 40.4 per cent.
The industrial, commercial and recreational sectors absorbed the remaining balance.
Buloke Shire’s rural sector will pay 72 per cent of the rate revenue, while the residential sector will pay 22 per cent and the commercial sector will pay six per cent.
The shire will raise 4.6 per cent more from farm rates this year and less from the residential and commercial sectors.
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Yarriambiack shire’s farm sector will pay $8.2 million in rate revenue, which was a $182,000 increase.
Meanwhile, residential rates have rose by only two per cent, which equates to a $42,000 increase. Commercial rates have rose by 3.7 per cent.
Ararat Rural City Council’s farm sector rates have increased by 13 per cent. The sector will pay 42 per cent of all rates totaling $6 million.
General ratepayers’ rates will decrease by six per cent. The sector will pay $6.9 million, which is 49 per cent of the rate revenue.
The commercial sector’s rates decreased by 22 per cent, sharing only seven per cent of the rate burden. Likewise, the industrial sector’s rates decreased by six per cent and paying two per cent.
Hindmarsh Shire Council’s farm sector will pay 72.7 per cent of rate revenue, which was a 4.8 per cent increase. The residential sector will pay 22.9 per cent and had a decrease of 5.7 per cent while the commercial/industrial sector will pay 3.72 per cent, which was reduced by 7.3 per cent.
West Wimmera Shire charged a general rate to all rateable properties and does not apply differential rates.
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