Rates
What are Council Rates?
Local Authority Rates are a levy based upon Gross Rental Values and Unimproved Values determined by the Valuer Generals Office.
Rates pay for facilities and services provided by the Council, including libraries, recreation halls and grounds, roads, footpaths, senior housing, parks and reserves. A sewerage rate based on a specific area e.g. Coolgardie, is levied to ensure that the Council sewerage system is maintained. Kambalda residents are billed for sewerage by the Water Corporation. A rubbish levy is also incurred for the weekly collection of rubbish.
Who Pays Council Rates?
Rates are the responsibility of the current owner of a property.
New owners and those transferring ownership do have a legal responsibility to inform the Shire of Coolgardie when a change in ownership or the address for the service of notice occurs.
What is an Emergency Services Levy?
This is not a Local Government charge; it is simply collected by Local Government for FESA to cover the cost of operating the various branches of the Fire Brigade and the State Emergency Services (SES), as well as recongising the input and requirement of the Bushfire Services. The collection of this levy is undertaken by the Shire and is then passed onto the State Government.
Why Do We Pay Rates?
The overall objective of the rates and charges in the 2009-2010 budget is to provide for the net funding requirements of the Shire. This year's Operational Expenditure Budget is divided into the following areas:
Governance & General Purpose - $824,515 - 8.8%
Governance relates to the Democratic Process. Items include costs associated with local elections, support to elected members and council meetings, provision of information to the public, corporate support to all service areas, information technology, telecommunications requirements, customer survey and community consultation.
Law, Order & Public Safety - $202,708 - 2.2%
This section allows for the costs of animal and dog control, fire prevention and other law enforcement. It also provides for safety and security initiatives.
Health - $44,905 - 0.5%
Health Expenditure includes funding for Environmental Health Officers which include the issuing of licences for various premises, pest control, health promotion and education and analytical fees.
Education & Welfare - $218,805 - 2.3%
This expenditure relates to the care of families and children, aged and disabled services and youth programmes and activities.
Housing - $121,420 - 1.3%
This expenditure relates to shire housing, aged pereson housing and housing provided for doctors. Additional funding for building upgrades is provided under schedule 13.
Recreation & Culture - $2,845,170 - 30.4%
Items within this area include the maintenance of the town halls and recreation centres, maintenance of all the Shire's grassed areas, library facilities, cultural activities, community events, Museum and community arts projects.
Community Amenities - $1,252,140 - 13.4%
This program includes costs associated with refuse collection and disposal, the Coolgardie and Kambalda waste facility operations, sewerage collection and treatment in Coolgardie, environmental programs, administration of the Town Planning Scheme, regional development and maintenance and construction of bus shelters.
This budget allows for a household refuse collection charge of $221.50 per annum for one 240 litre mobile garbage bin. This fee allows for weekly household collection and maintenance of the Coolgardie and Kambalda refuge facilities.
Economic Services - $469,005 - 5.0%
Expenditure in this area includes building control, swimming pool inspections, tourism and area promotion, visitor centres, the Coolgardie Horse Blocks and the Economic Development Unit.
Transport - $3,245,455 - 34.7%
This area includes operation of roads, drainage and footpath maintenance, parking facilities, road lighting and traffic signs.
Other Property & Services - $123,275 - 1.3%
Includes public works overheads and control accounts, plant and equipment maintenance and allocation to service areas.
Easy Ways to Pay
In Person - Cash, Cheque or EFTPOS only
Coolgardie Shire Office, Bayley Street, Coolgardie OR
Kambalda Shire Office, Irish Mulga Drive, Kambalda
Between the hours of 8am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday
The Chief Executive Officer
Shire of Coolgardie
PO Box 138
Kambalda WA 6442
Please make cheques/money orders payable to the Shire of Coolgardie and attach the payments portion of your rates notice.
EFT
Payments can be made via EFT directly into the Council's Bank account:
Account Name: Shire of Coolgardie
BSB: 086-712
Account: 4555 99 582
Please use your assessment number as a reference.
BPoint
Visit www.coolgardie.wa.gov.au or call 1300 276 468.
Please call Council for your Biller Code and Account Number.
Options for Payment of Rates
Section 6.45 (4)(e) of the Local Government Act (Regulation 68)
Option One
One Instalment
Rates paid in full by 8th September 2009
Option Two
Four instalments with the following due dates
First payment due 8th September 2009
Second payment due 30th November 2009
Third payment due 23rd February 2010
Fourth and final payment due 24th May 2010
Council accepts that not all ratepayers can meet the 4 instalment options provided for under Section 6.45 of the Local Government act. In this instance you are encouraged to contact the Shires Rates Officer to make alternative arrangements.
Final notices are issed during the period not exceeding 30 days after the due date of a rate notice. Such notices are issued when no payment has been made by the due date or insufficient payment is made to cover an instalment option. Failure to respond to a final notice may lead to the issue of a summons without further notice.
Additional Charges on Instalments
In all cases an administration charge of $10 per instalment, excluding the first payment, will be applied to instalment options 2.
Pensioner and Senior Rebate
If you are the holder of a Senior Card and a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, you may be entitled to receive up to a 50% rebate on your Local Government Rates and Emergency Services Levy (ESL).
If you are the holder of a Pensioner Concession Card or a State Concession Card, you may be entitled to receive up to a 50% rebate on your Local Government Rates and Emergency Services Levy (ESL).
To receive a concession you must, as at 1st July, 2008, be the owner, co-owner of the property or have a right to reside at the property under the terms of Will and occupy the property as your "ordinary plance of residence".
In order to obtain a concession for the current financial year you MUST register before the due date of the first instalment as shown on your rate notice.
If you are already registered as a pensioner with the Council, you are not required to re-register unless your circumstances have changed since your last registration. You are however required to notify Council in writing when you cease to be an entitled pensioner. Failing to do so is an offfence and carries a penalty of $1000.
Concessions are permitted in current rates ONLY, overdue rates are not entitled to the rebate.
Pensioners can elect to pay their rates by Centrepay, where payments are taken out of their pension each fortnight. This scheme is made available through Centrelink. For more information or to utilise this medthod of payment, please contact the Rates Officer on 9080 2111.
Collection of Overdue Rates
Where payments are overdue, every effort is made to recover the rates in an efficient manner.
Local court action, by way of summons and warrants is effective in all but a minority of cases. Occasionally, the owner is difficult to trace or the Court process is inappropriate. The Local Government act provides the mechanism for Local Authorities to collect overdue rates. An additional administration fee will be charged for each instalment made subsequent to the first instalment payable under any payment option (refer to rate notice for amount).
Interest on Overdue Rates and Charges
A standard fixed interest charge of 11% (calculated daily) will apply to all monies outstanding on your council rates. This will be continual until such time as the levy is paid in full. This will commence as at 1st September 2009.
Early Payment Incentive
Pay your rates in full on or before the due date and be automaticlly entered into a draw to win the following prizes:
- 1st Prize - $500 cash, plus a Family Season Pass to the Shire's Aquatic Facilities
- 2nd Prize - $500 cash, plus a Family Season Pass to the Shire's Aquatic Facilities
- 3rd Prize - $250 cash, plus a Family Season Pass to the Shire's Aquatic Facilities
- 4th Prize - $250 cash, plus a Family Season Pass to the Shire's Aquatic Facilities.
Pensioner Rebates & Deferments
Ratepayers holding a Commonwealth or State Pension Card may be entitled to a rebate on their annual rates and charges. Eligibility is subject to certain conditions. Entitled pensioners who own and occupy land within the Shire of Coolgardie may claim up to a 50% rebate on their rates.
To claim a rebate a Pensioner must:
- Register with the local authority within 35 days of rates notice issuing.
- Be the owner/occupier of the property as at 1st July of the year for which the rebate is being claimed.
- Hold a relevant Pensioner card as at 1st July of the year for which the rebate is being claimed. For example, a Pensioner Health Benefit Card, Commonwealth Concession Card or State Concession Card.
Pensioners can elect to pay their rates by Centrepay, where payments are taken out of their pension each fortnight. This Scheme is made available through Centrelink. For more information and to utilise this method of payment, please contact the Rates Officer.
As this is only a brief outline, pensioners are encouraged to contact the Rates Officer at the Coolgardie Shire Office on (08) 9080 2111 to determine their eligibility for the rebate and to register if they qualify.