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City of Wanneroo proposes 2.45% rates increase

Lucy JarvisWanneroo Times

A report due to be considered by the council on May 30 recommends it approve the differential rates for public advertising.

It said the overall rate revenue increase would be 3.96 per cent, but the increase would vary between categories. “The residential improved category, of which the majority of rateable properties are classified, will receive an increase of 2.45 per cent, minimum rate of $1337 in 2017-18 compared to the 2016-17 minimum of $1305,” it said.

“The residential vacant category will receive a higher 15.05 per cent average rate revenue increase.”

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At the May 23 council briefing session, corporate strategy and performance director Noelene Jennings said the rate for homeowners was “considerably lower” than the 4.5 per cent proposed in the City’s long-term financial plan.

Mrs Jennings said elected members had opted for the lower rate due to the current economic climate.

The report said the increase for vacant residential blocks resulted from comments made by the grants commissioner in the WA Local Government Grants Commission Public Hearing last year that the City’s minimum rates on vacant land were low.

“With this in mind and with knowledge of what Growth Alliance Perth and Peel Councils and our near neighbour councils (Joondalup and Stirling) are charging, the City has increased its minimum rates on vacant land,” the report said.

“The minimum rate for residential vacant was approved by council on April 5, 2016 to be increased over a three-year period aiming to be in the top quartile by 2018-19.

“In today’s dollars this will equate to rates on vacant land in 2018-19 in the range of $1000 to $1100.”

The City is proposing a 7.16 per cent average rate revenue increase for the commercial and industrial vacant category, with a minimum of $1318 or $659 for strata titled storage units.

The proposed minimum rate for strata titled caravan parks is $422.

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