Rates
RATES AND CHARGES ARE PAYABLE BY INSTALMENTS
The Mansfield Shire Council resolved that all rates and charges will be payable by four instalments; the due dates for 2012/2013 being (1st Instalment) 30 September 2012, (2nd) 30 November 2012, (3rd) 28 February 2013 and (4th) 31 May 2013.
Ratepayers wishing to make only one payment are advised that rate payments received after 30th September 2012 will be charged interest on the instalment amount from the date the instalment was due to the date of the payment.
Any ratepayer who may be experiencing difficulties in meeting their instalment payments are encouraged to contact Council's Rates Unit on 5775 8555 to discuss alternative arrangements. This will prevent the matter being placed in the hands of Council’s Debt Collection Agency, saving the ratepayer extensive legal costs.
Differential Rates
The Mansfield Shire Council raises its revenue from rates by applying a Municipal Charge to all properties and an ad-valorem rate ( cent in the dollar ) to the Capital Improved Value of all rateable land.
Council declares a municipal charge each year to cover some of the administrative costs of the Council. The charge is a fixed amount and applies to all properties within the Shire with the exception of farms that consist of two or more properties. Only one charge for each farming enterprise is applicable in this instance. The total revenue received from the municipal charge must not exceed 20% of the sum of the total revenue from general rates plus the municipal charge.
The Municipal Charge for the 2012/2013 financial year has been set at
$232.50 per rateable property.
The balance of rate revenue is raised by applying a rate in the dollar to all the Capital Improved Values of rateable properties. As the Mansfield Shire Council utilises the Differential Rating system, there may be different rates in the dollar for each separate rating category.
The rating categories presently in use are – Farmland, Residential, Rural Residential, Vacant Land, Commercial and Industrial.
Valuations
All properties in the Shire are valued every two years by a contract valuer. Tenders are called every four years and the successful tenderer is appointed to return two General Valuations. All properties have presently been valued with a level of value (market value) date of 1st January 2012.
Property owners have a right under the Valuation of Lands Act 1960 to object to the valuation of their property. Objection forms are available from the Council and must be lodged within two months of the issue of the rate notice.
Rate Concessions
Pensioner Rate Rebate 2012/13 -
$198.00