1909
VOL. 116
NO. 23
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Let there be light
WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, 2024
Devil of a time
PAGE 3
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PAGE 11
PRICE $1.50 INC GST
Post on the move
PAGE 5
15% cap on Dorset rate rise BY RACHEL WILLIAMS
Non-Vacant Residential Rates 2024-2025 increase
Dorset areas
With Capping
Without Capping
Branxholm
$98.64
$142.03
Bridport
$157.89
$326.93
Derby
$116.05
$378.27
Gladstone Area
$95.52
$131.68
Pioneer Area
$75.79
$164.69
Ringarooma Area
$93.23
$111.51
Scottsdale
$78.85
$65.12
Winnaleah
$84.87
$176.53
Other
$115.19
$181.87
• Non-Vacant Residential Rates for Dorset Council areas showing the average annual increase with and without the 15% rate cap.
A GENERAL rate cap of 15 per cent will be applied to Dorset Council rates in a bid to prevent some property owners paying a massive 383 per cent increase as a result of Fresh Valuations. Commissioner Andrew Wardlaw on Monday night approved a general rate revenue increase for the entire municipality of 5.7 per cent. Extra rates and charges will provide $673,000 in revenue to improve operating income. But, despite the rate increase, the council is forecasting an underlying deficit of $459,000 for the financial year, with plans to return to surplus within three years. Road maintenance, waste management, employee costs and depreciation expenditure have all risen, adding to the budget burden. Entry to the Scottsdale Aquatic Centre will remain free and major projects such as the Scottsdale to Lilydale Rail Trail, access improvements at Bridport’s Croquet Lawn Beach, upgrades at playgrounds in Scottsdale, Branxholm and Winnaleah, as well as over $2.3 million for road works across the municipality, have been budgeted for in the total $8.8 million capital works package. The new rate recommendation includes the introduction of a 15 per cent cap to mitigate the impacts of fresh valuations
Same great team. In a new red. Justin Wiggins 0438 522 876 JUSTIN.WIGGINS@ELDERS.COM.AU LAUNCESTON.ELDERSREALESTATE.COM.AU
by the Valuer General, which has seen the Assessed Annual Value of some homes drastically increase. A property’s AAV is used by council to calculate each rates bill. Commissioner Wardlaw approved the new rate of 5.318 cents in the dollar on the AAV of all rateable land. This means an average house in Scottsdale, at $405,000, could expect to pay $862 per annum in rates. A $1m home in Bridport would pay $2,127, however if, for example, the same Bridport home paid $1800 last year, the 15% cap would apply, and they’d only pay $2,070 this year. Property predominantly used for short stay visitor accommodation will continue to be charged double the rate, at 10.636 cents. New variations will be introduced for Forestry land, which will increase slightly to 6.192 cents, while rates for the Cape Portland wind farm will increase to 7.421 cents in the dollar. The Council said it had previously been budgeting on a six per cent rise overall as part of its Long Term Financial Plan but revised it downwards to 5.7 per cent, citing cost of living pressures and the impacts of the new property valuations, which come into effect from July 1. Corporate Services Acting Director Lauren Tolputt said Fresh Valuations had T CONTINUES ON PAGE 2.