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Rates Harmonisation Project

At Murrumbidgee Council we are commencing rates harmonisation across the Council area. As a merged Council, this is a natural transition that will see all ratepayers within individual sub-categories rated exactly the same. It will position our Council with a uniform rating structure across the whole Council area.
 
The community is invited to attend the community consultation sessions to find out more about the project, its implementation over the next five years, how this affects your individual rates and the implications for Council’s budget. The sessions will be held as follows:
 
  • Darlington Point Council Chambers, Friday 11 June 2021, 1.00-5.00 pm
  • Jerilderie Council Chambers, Thursday 17 June 2021, 1.00-5.00 pm
  • Coleambally Community Hall, Friday 18 June 2021, 1.00-5.00 pm
Please bring your rate assessment notice so staff can provide individualised advice.

What is Rates Harmonisation?

Rates harmonisation is the process of redistributing rates across the Council area so that rates are the same for the individual sub-categories (based on the unimproved land value of a property).
It will replace the existing system that used different formulas devised by the former Murrumbidgee Shire and Jerilderie Shire Councils. This will result in the rating and fee structures being aligned across the Council area.

We have worked hard to ensure the new rating structure achieves the following:
  • The rates burden is distributed uniformly across our Council area
  • The financial impacts on ratepayers are minimised
  • The way we apply rates is simplified and made more efficient
Every sub-category of ratepayers will now have a base rate and the minimum rate has been abolished.

When does Rates Harmonisation begin and how long will it last?

Rates harmonisation will commence in the 2021-22 financial year and this is reflected in the 2021-22 Operational Plan (budget).
Within the legislation we can harmonise immediately, over an eight year period, or anywhere in between. We are interested in your views on this.

Does Council receive additional revenue by harmonising rates?

The process of harmonising rates across Murrumbidgee Council area will not increase the total rates revenue collected by Council. It simply redistributes the rates more uniformly across our Council area.
The total rates revenue for Murrumbidgee Council remains the same, other than the standard annual increase permitted by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The harmonisation process takes the current total general rate and apportions it differently across revised subcategories.

Are there any other changes?

Every year we seek to review the classifications before applying IPART’s annual increase.

What will my estimated rates be?

We are able to provide personalised advice for individual ratepayers regarding changes to your rates instalment. Please contact our Rates team and provide the property ID from your previous rates notice.

Will services change in our Council area?

The services that Council provides will not change. Council will continue to provide the same high quality services it has traditionally provided. Your rates provide an important source of revenue to allow Council to provide these services. We will continue to actively pursue Federal and State Government funding to enable new projects across the Council area.

How will Council be letting the community know about these changes?

We will be communicating these changes widely with ratepayers and the general community. This includes community drop-in sessions, personalised advice, advertisements, social media engagement, posters, community newsletters, mailouts and through the media.


You can also call our Rates team on 1300 676 243 to discuss your individual situation or email us.