• The Council has resolved to achieve a target
in 2011/12, which modifies the differential
apportionment so that the commercial, industrial
and business sector pay 2.8 times the General
rate per dollar of capital value payable by
those properties incorporated under the Base
(Residential) differential. For 2008/09 the General
rate differential ratio will be 3.8:1.
• The separated parts of a rating unit will be
differentially rated where a part of the property
is non-rateable or the property fits under one or
more rating differential and either:
a) The total capital value of the rating unit is
above $800,000 or
b) Minority use(s) account for more than
30 percent of the total capital value of
the rating unit.
In any other case, the General rate differential is
determined by principal use.
• In regard to the rates attributable to a rating
unit during the transition period between two
differential rating categories, a ratepayer may
apply for a change in rating category at any time
between the lodgement of a consent application
with the Council (on the condition that the
principal prior use has ended) and the earlier of
either:
a) The time at which the Council gives final
approval of the completed works, or
b) The property is deemed (by the Council) to be
available for its intended use.
In situations where the change in land use does not
require a Council consent, but warrants a change
in differential rating category, the onus is on the
ratepayer to inform the Council prior to the property
being utilised under the new use.
• The rating differential classification of all rating
units must be set prior to the commencement
of a rating year and will remain in place for that
entire rating year. Any change in circumstances
that results in a change of differential classification
during a rating year will apply from 1 July of the
following rating year.
• Any property eligible for mandatory 50 percent
non-rateability under Part 2, Schedule 1, of the
Rating Powers Act will be first classified under the
appropriate General rate differential classifications
and the non-rateability applied to that rate.