WYNDHAM Council fears proposed differential rating guidelines will limit its ability to share the burden across the municipality.
The state government has released draft guidelines which will give Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell the power to prevent councils from setting certain differential rates.
The proposed changes are in response to concerns about the use of differentials.
As reported by the Weekly, Wyndham Council has come under fire from ratepayers in the north of the municipality when the land was rezoned as urban growth zone in this year’s budget.
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But in a submission to the government, the council said the new guidelines were confusing and did not allow for future differential ratings.
The council also criticised the timing, saying changes could not be implemented before the 2013-14 budget. “This will place excessive burdens on Wyndham City to ensure compliance with the final adopted guideline.
“By the time the guideline has been released, Wyndham City will be well into the budget process for the 2013-14 year.”
Cr Glenn Goodfellow described the proposed guidelines ‘ad hoc’. “It’s important we highlight problems because rates are an important issue.”
The government is expected to release its final guidelines later this month.
