Changes to rating legislation has prompted AlburyCity to commence a Rating Structure Review, to ensure there continues to be fair distribution of the rates property owners pay across our city.
Community feedback is being sought on a Discussion Paper that compares our rating structure with other councils in the broader region, including Wodonga City Council, Greater Hume Shire Council, and Wagga Wagga City Council.
Key proposals identified for community input include:
A rate reduction is proposed for farmland properties, which would see rates for the average farm reduce by around 31%.
The continued expansion of the urban area in Thurgoona has meant that around 500 properties historically categorised as village now form part of the contiguous urban area. Therefore it is proposed that these properties are re-categorised to align them with the standard rate for urban properties.
To support these properties through any transition, a change in rates would take place gradually over a four-year period, with an annual rate rise of 3.5% for these residential properties and 25% for business properties previously categorised as village.
AlburyCity CEO Frank Zaknich said that with the growth the city is experiencing, it is important that our rating structure aligns with our changing community and property landscape.
“To continue to provide the services and infrastructure that supports our community's growth means that from time to time rating structure changes are necessary, to ensure that there is fair distribution of rates across all properties,” said Mr Zaknich.
"We will be directly contacting all impacted property owners to inform them of the proposed changes and providing them the opportunity to discuss directly with AlburyCity."
Any rate changes are proposed to commence from 1 July 2023.
The AlburyCity Rating Structure Review Discussion Paper is available for community feedback on the AlburyCity website.
Submissions on the Discussion Paper close on Friday 18 November 2022.