Why do I pay rates?
To generate revenue for the provision of community facilities and services.
Why should I pay for services I don't use?
Like your tax, the money raised from rates goes towards the community as a whole. It is not possible to allocate individual rates for specific purposes, eg. road construction and maintenance, street lighting, drainage construction, etc. To get maximum benefit from your rates, Council encourages you to access the many services and facilities that it provides. Council currently provides over 120 different services to a population of almost 122,036 people.
How does Council determine my rates?
The valuation of your property determines the proportion of the total rate bill that you will be apportioned.