Rates on agenda as Geraldton council considers 1.5 per cent rise

City of Greater Geraldton councillors will consider adopting a 1.5 per cent rate rise across the board when they meet tonight.

If approved, the rate in the dollar in 2019-20 will be 14.8529¢ for residential properties, 12.2934¢ for non-residential properties and 0.7775¢ for unimproved value properties.

According to council notes, properties that were not revalued this financial year will pay just 1.5 per cent more in rates than they did in 2018-19.

But with unimproved value properties revalued every year, acting director of corporate and commercial services Paul Radalj said some ratepayers may see their rates jump by more than 10 per cent.

Minimum payments are proposed to stay at $1010 for the fifth year in a row.

If the City’s revised Long Term Financial Plan is adopted for 2019-2029, increases to rates will be contained within a range of 1.5 to 2 per cent a year.

The executive recommendation also suggests lowering the interest rate charged on outstanding rates, service charges and debts from 11 per cent to nine per cent.

If councillors adopt the proposed 2019-20 budget, ratepayers can expect to pay an extra $52 per bin for their weekly household rubbish collection.

According to briefing notes, revenue from the increase will be used for rehabilitation works required in the next four years and for implementing the City’s food organic and garden organic kerbside collection trial.

Councillors will also consider adopting the 2019-20 Capital Works Program, which allocates $20 million towards asset renewal and $6.9 million for new capital projects.

The council meeting tonight will start at 5pm in the Council Chambers on Cathedral Avenue.