Benjamin Millar
Moorabool council’s process for collecting property rates and other revenue will be under the spotlight with an independent review planned to investigate the process.
Councillors last week approved an independent review into its Revenue and Rating Plan for 2021-22 to help guide the formation of a new strategy to be in place by next July.
The Revenue and Rating Plan, required under the Local Government Act 2020, must outline how the council will collect and distribute rates and other revenue.
Chief executive Derek Madden said the review will inform the strategy for the rating year 2022-23 and beyond.
“The community will have an opportunity to have input into the review and we are actively encouraging our community to have their say,” he said.
“There will be a number of ways the community can do this, including taking part in a range of forums in December 2021 and February 2022.”
Consultation will include online surveys and listening posts as well drop in sessions and written submissions.
Feedback will be presented to councillors next March and incorporated in the 2022-23 Budget Process.
The review follows the council’s submission to the state government’s own review of rates.
The council highlighted changes it would like to see to the rating system, including a review of the impact on farming rates in peri-urban areas of land speculation driving up the value of land beyond its primary use of farming.
It also wants the state government to consider removing the “four times rule” under which the highest differential rate between residential, commercial and farming property can be no more than four times the lowest.
Moorabool council has asked for the removal of concessional rating of windfarms and electricity generators and advocating for the increase in the broad municipal charge to help councils provide a lower level of rate volatility under annual valuations.
