Property revaluations/2020-21 rates

The City of Cockburn's response to the Cockburn Gazette on 29.5.20 about property revaluations/2020-21 rates -


Question: Can you confirm the proportion of properties facing a jump in rates (and if so how much), and how many will pay less than they did this year? If not, when would you expect to be in a position to do so?
 
Answer: Council’s adopted position is for the 2020/21 budget to deliver “a zero percentage average increase to rates”. The City has prepared a rates model that aims to deliver an outcome where no ratepayer will pay more in Council rates for 2020-21 than it did in 2019-2020, regardless of the GRV revaluation.
 
Question: Has the council as yet set its rate-in-the-dollar that will be used to calculate this year’s rates? If not, when is that likely to be set and/or advertised?
 
Answer: The rates modelling has been completed and the City will be advertising its Objects & Reasons document with the rates in the dollar at the start of June. Comments will be received until 30 June.   
 
Question: What is the timeline for advertising and adopting the 20-21 annual budget and when should ratepayers expect to receive a rates notices this year? Has the timeline been slightly altered by COVID-19?
 
Answer: Yes, the timeline has changed because of COVID-19. The City will now be adopting its 2020-21 budget mid-July (instead of mid-June). Rates notices will go out roughly three weeks later than usual, in early August.
 
Question: Many ratepayers would be expecting their councils to follow through with zero per cent rate rises, not realising the GRV revaluation is out of the councils hands. Given that, what reaction do you expect from ratepayers be when they receive their rates notices this year? Will some be surprised? Pleased? Other?
 
Answer: Given the nature of rates and the diverse ratepayer base within Cockburn, a number of reactions are to be expected. However, “potential” reactions are not a driver of the City’s financial planning decisions, rather proper financial management practices are followed in order to best deliver Council decisions.