President Jack Davis

9570 6227

Email Jack_d@iinet.net.au

Facts about Council Rates

 

9/6/06

Since 1999, rates have increased by 8.3% per annum.

The average property rate has risen from $600 to $1,100 per annum.

Rates revenue has risen from $1.4 billion in 1999-2000 to $2.6 billion 2005-06, with an expected

 rate increase for 2006-07 of an average 8% or approx. $200 million = $2.8 billion next year.

This means that rates revenue will have doubled since in 1999.

This is not to mention user fees, fines and charges revenue and grants totaling another

 $2.5 billion meaning councils now expend more than $5 billion per annum.

According to the Hawker Cost-Shifting Inquiry, grants and transfer payments to local government

 have increased by an average 4.5% per annum while State grants to local government have

 only increased by 0.4% per annum over the past 25 years.

This year the State Government will receive $8.5 billion in GST from the Commonwealth, expected to

 rise to approx. $10 billion next year.

GST is of course  UNTIED meaning it can be spent wherever the State desires.

There is no doubt some of this windfall should be shared with local government to keep

the pressure off ratepayers.

Rates have risen by an average of 10% across the State of Victoria.

Ratepayers must take a stand before rates become unaffordable we urge all ratepayers and groups to write to your local ministers and councils people power is your only weapon.