Rating Review Underway in the Coorong

Coorong District Council is reviewing its rating strategy to make it fairer and more equitable for all ratepayers.

Several changes have been proposed to amend the rating strategy, which primarily relate to a reduction in the fixed charge and changes to the differential rates for various rating categories.

Coorong District Council Mayor Paul Simmons said the proposed changes would improve equity across the community when charging rates.

“It has been a priority of this Council to consider carefully its rating strategy and the manner in which rates are raised to ensure that it can be as fair as possible, while balancing the needs of our community,” Mayor Simmons says.

“A reduction in the fixed charge will reduce the shared rates burden and the impact on lower income ratepayers, and provide them with some rate relief.”

Options to update the rates strategy have been outlined in a Rates Review discussion paper that will be released for community feedback from 4 March 2021.

Proposed changes being considered by Coorong District Council include:

• Reducing the fixed charge
• Increasing the differential rate for properties within the Commercial and Industry land use categories
• Maintaining the amount of revenue from Vacant Land properties by increasing the differential rate (and reducing the fixed charge)

These changes would be introduced over a two-year period.

“I encourage members of our community to attend one of the three public meetings being held to learn more about the rates review and provide comment on the proposed changes,” Mayor Simmons says.

The Rates Review discussion paper can be accessed on the Coorong District Council website or copies can be obtained from any Council office. The public are invited to provide feedback in the form of a written submission from Thursday 4 March 2021 until 5:00pm on Monday 29 March 2021.

Public meetings will be held at Coonalpyn on 15 March, at Meningie on 17 March and Tailem Bend on 18 March. Details including registration, times and venues are available on Council’s website.

Community feedback will be incorporated into a final report for consideration by Council in April 2021.

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Contact:

Bridget Mather
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | COORONG DISTRICT COUNCIL
Phone: 1300 785 277 | E: bmather@coorong.sa.gov.au