Calculation of Rates

Method Used to Value Land

All land within the council area, except for land specifically exempt (eg crown land and council occupied land), is rateable. Wakefield Regional Council has decided to continue to use capital value as the basis for valuing land within the council area. The Council considers that this method of valuing provides the fairest method of distributing the rate burden across all ratepayers.

The Council has adopted the valuations made by the SA Valuer-General as provided to the Council on 1 July 2012.

Differential General Rates and Fixed Charge

In order to deliver services, the Local Government Act 1999 provides for a Council to raise revenue by applying rates. This year, Council has developed its Budget based on an average rate increase of 5% across the Council area. Copies of the 2012/13 Annual Business Plan and 2012/13 Budget are available under "Council Documents".

Wakefield Regional Council has adopted differential rating and a fixed charge. The differential general rates are based on the following land use categories:

Residential - 0.2475 cents in the dollar
Commmercial - 0.4133 cents in the dollar
Industrial - 0.4133 cents in the dollar
Primary Production - 0.2475 cents in the dollar
Vacant Land - 0.6881 cents in the dollar
Other - 0.2475 cents in the dollar.

A Council may impose a fixed charge on every property in its area, provided that it has not imposed a minimum rate. Where two or more adjoining properties have the same owner and the same occupier, or where there is a single farm enterprise comprising more than one property, only one fixed charge is payable by the ratepayer.

The Council has imposed a fixed charge on rateable properties of $310.00.

Want to know what you get for your rates?

There are a series of 'Fact Sheets' available about council rates from the Local Government Association. Visit www.lga.sa.gov.au/goto/rates.