After three years of no rate increases, the City of Swan is proposing to introduce a small increase to rates to continue to deliver high quality services and projects for our rapidly growing community.
The average increase for residential, commercial and industry rates is 3.75 per cent, which is significantly less than current levels of inflation.
The increase equates to, on average, $54 more annually per household, which is equivalent to just over one dollar a week. Pensioners in the City will pay even less, with a 50 per cent discount of up to $750 on their rates.
Stephen Cain, City of Swan CEO said the City has set an example for responsible budgeting, while the consumer price index (CPI) has continued to rise steadily over the last three years. The City’s proposed rate increases remain well below the 16% Perth CPI movement over the past three years.
“Responsible budgeting is our absolute priority, as we understand household costs are continuing to rise,” he said.
“However, we also know our community want to see enhanced community safety and crime prevention, better streetscapes and verges, and more trees, playgrounds, parks and reserves; all of which is impossible to deliver without our community’s rates investment.
“A small rate increase in 2023/24 allows us to continue delivering the vast array of important services and projects to our community, while providing them with value for their rates investment.
“The proposed increase also covers an unexpected hike in Western Power charges for street lighting, which is up to 48% for some type of lights and will cost the City an additional 800,000.”
The City applies a differential rating approach to levying rates. That is, it distinguishes between different types of properties in the City based upon the predominant use of the land, and then uses that to determine the category of rate investment applied to each property.
This year is a Gross Rental Value (GRV) and Unimproved Value (UV) revaluation year for all local governments, and as such, many properties will see a change in their rates this year. This revaluation is based on an assessment by the Valuer General at Landgate, who determines the rental value of all homes and unimproved value of land.
The revaluation means some property owners will pay more rates, while others will pay less. There is no means by which a simple uniform dollar value increase can be applied.
We invite you to have your say the City’s proposed new rates, from Thursday, May 4 until 5pm on Friday, May 26, 2023.
View the proposed new rates, and then make an online submission(open in new window).
Alternatively, submissions will also be accepted by:
- By email: swan@swan.wa.gov.au
- In-person: at the City of Swan Administration Centre, 2 Midland Square, Midland.
- Via Post: City of Swan, PO Box 196, Midland WA 6939.
Media contact: Greta Jasiak, 0429 780 951, media@swan.wa.gov.au