Rates are a charge against a property and are made up of a variety of different types of rates for our variety of services.
Our rating system
There are two types of rates - a general rate and a targeted rate.
Your rates account is made up of the following:
- Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) and other uniform target rates
- Fixed targeted ward rates
- Valuation-based targeted rates
- Valuation-based general rates
Part of the way we calculate rates is based on the capital value of a property. This means the value of your property is used to calculate how much you pay for certain activities. It is not used to calculate your total rates.
What is a Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC)?
The UAGC is a fixed amount per rating unit, regardless of property value. It covers the cost of providing some community amenities, such as parks, and the cost of governance and leadership, civil defence, environmental health, the roading network, street lighting, road/streets landscapes refuse disposal, footpaths, dog control, economic development and promotion, and Council's property costs (non commercial).
All ratepayers pay the UAGC.
What is a targeted rate?
Targeted rates are charged for a specific service through a tax on each rateable unit (or separately used or inhabited portion of a rating unit) to ensure that the cost of a service or activity is covered by those who use the service, or who contribute to the need for the service or activity. This includes a varety of things, the most common being kerbside rubbish collection, water and sewer services.