Geraldton council approves 3.6 per cent rates rise as material costs, rental values increase

Geraldton property owners will be hit with an average 3.6 per cent rate rise to combat local government budget pressures and recent property revaluations.

The council on Tuesday noted the proposed rates for the 2022-23 year and minimum payments for residential properties, which remains at $1027.

The rates increase is expected to result in a 5 per cent increase in revenue, with $50.33 million to be collected from ratepayers in the coming financial year.

Due to State Government property revaluations, property owners in some suburbs could be paying up to 10 per cent less on their next rates bill.

But some Strathalbyn ratepayers could pay 20 per cent more due to skyrocketing rental values.

It was also agreed that residential and non-residential rates would be merged into a single category to deliver a more equitable distribution of rates levied across property owners.

The council froze rates during the peak of the COVID pandemic in 2020, with a 1.75 per cent rate rise implemented last financial year.

But City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the council could not continue to deliver services to the community if it did not increase rates for the coming financial year.

“The City has done a lot of work getting its finances in order, but we are not immune to cost pressures that are in play as we speak,” he said.

“We have seen an inflation rise in Perth of 7.2 per cent, and when we look to our own budget and what we spend money on ... the cost of steel is up 70 per cent, fencing (materials) are up (almost) 40 per cent, and bitumen is up 20 per cent.”