How do we calculate rates?

Council’s Revenue Policy details the rating structure adopted by Council. It sets out which rates and charges you will have to pay and how they are calculated. 

To calculate the ordinary rates to be paid for each property, Council uses the following method: 

Base amount + (individual unimproved land value x ad valorem rate) = rates charge ($) 

The total amount of income that Council can raise from certain rates and charges is limited by an annual rate peg percentage set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). 

Rates are calculated on land values supplied by the Valuer General of NSW. These land values are used to calculate the annual rates for each property. New valuations are issued by the Valuer General of NSW every three years which Council uses for the following financial year.