Massive rates heist will cripple some residents

Some ratepayers may not be able to afford huge rate rise

John Macmahon

• Some ratepayers may face hardship and worse in the face of savage rates increases proposed to be levied in the Serpentine-Jarrahdale Shire in 2007/08.
  
  The minutes of a Special Council Meeting dated 9^th July 2007 state:
  "The draft Forward Financial Plan provides for deficiency in revenue to the value of $6.7M to be made up of rates in the 2007/2008 financial year. This represents a 16.5% increase in the 2006/2007 rates." Read more.
  
  Minimum rates increases will be 12.0% with poultry farmers being hit with a brutal 58% increase. Given that the Gross Rentable Value (GRV) of many properties may have risen sharply in recent times some residents may be forced to pay up to 40% in additional rates.
  
  Pensioners and self funded retirees may be particularly hard hit with some already facing the prospect of being forced out of their homes. Property values in the Shire are almost certain to fall in the face of a rate rise at almost four times the national inflation rate.
  
  The rate heist has once again brought into question the financial management capabilities of the S-J Shire. Some ratepayers are known to be less than happy with some aspects of financial management.
  
  Questions regarding financial management of the Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre and the expenditure of ratepayers funds on the Café on the Dam project still remain basically unanswered.
  
  A group of local businessmen and ratepayers are considering asking The Minister for Local Government, The Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich, to carry out a detailed enquiry into the S-J Shires financial dealings.
  
  HAVE YOUR SAY
  
  

  DIFFERENTIAL RATE CATEGORY	UV RATE			GRV RATE			MINIMUM RATE
  	IN CENTS		%	IN CENTS		%			%
  	2006/07	2007/08	INCREASE	2006/07	2007/08	INCREASE	2006/07	2007/08	INCREASE
  Residential				8.7048	9.7494	12.00%	611	773	25.61%
  Residential/Vacant				17.4096	19.4988	12.00%	651	773	18.74%
  Special Residential				9.9274	11.1187	12.00%	701	773	0.0%
  Special Residential/Vacant				17.4096	19.4988	12.00%	701	773	10.27%
  Units Rowley Road				8.7048	9.7494	12.00%	538	538	0.0%
  Special Use				10.8508	11.8153	8.89%	1076	1076	0.0%
  Commercial				10.5494	11.8153	12.00%	701	773	10.27%
  Light Industry				16.4322	18.4041	12.00%	701	701	0.0%
  Caravan Parks				9.1400	11.8153	29.27%	701	773	10.27%
  Rural	0.3709	0.3130	-15.61%				753	773	2.66%
  Rural Living	0.3709	0.3322	-10.43%				753	773	2.66%
  Intensive Farming	0.6134	0.9720	58.46%				753	773	2.66%
  Farmland	0.2560	0.2160	-15.63%				753	773	2.66%
  Conservation	0.1854	0.1565	-15.59%				753	773	2.66%
  Public Purpose	0.6134	0.5789	-5.62%				701	773	10.27%
  Mining Tenements	0.9720	1.0866	12.009%				783	883	12.77%

•