UNDERSTANDING YOUR RATES AND THEIR PURPOSE

If you own a property in Tasmania you will be required to pay council rates. In effect 'rates' are a property tax levied to fund a range of services that benefit the local community. 

However, more importantly they are an investment in your community and they are there provide the funds needed to 'shape' the community, provide amenities and construct a CULTURALlandscape that meets the needs and aspirations those 'investing' in it – residents and ratepayers. 

Each year a community's local governance authority (LGA) determines an recurrent operating budget and rates are set by estimating the annual cost of services, infrastructure and projects needing to be funded. 

Each the LGA estimates how much revenue will be received as grants from: 

• State Government sources; 
• Federal Governments sources;
• LGA issued fees; and 
• The balance of anticipated expenditure is levied as rates and charges. 

LGAs provide local services and facilities. Rates, as well as applicable fees and charges, fund services including but not limited to: 

• Air quality and climate change 
• Public toilets 
• Parking 
• Flood mitigation 
• Immunisation 
• Roads, footpaths and cycle ways 
• Street lighting.

Councils need to be accountable and transparent in regard to the monies they 'conscript' from ratepayers, residents and visitors to their juridicton and if people care any doubt in regard to revenue expendiyure they should contact the appropriate LGA seeking information. 

Rights and responsibilities of ratepayers and the City of Launceston are detailed in Part 9 of the Local Government Act 1993.

Hobart City Council publishes an excellent document that deals with explaining what purpose the city's 'investors' monies are being applied. Sadly, this is not done so well in all LGAs.

GOOGLE

"your rates explained - City of Hobart"

When, or if, you have concerns about your LGA's performance and its use of your investment in the city you should:

• Contact one of or a number of elected representatives by phone or email ideally and ideally someone you voted for. If this turns out to be fruitless then;
• Contact a LGA Officer. If this turns out to be fruitless then;
• Depending upon the seriousness of the contact a State Govt. politician, If this turns out to be fruitless then I may be able to assist – you might not be presenting your case well enough.

Remember, it is your legitimate role, and right, to hold a LGA accountable for YOUR INVESTMENTS in your community and especially so in regard to the 'placemaking' you are investing in. Being fobbed off and put on hold should not be tolerated as neither should 'opaque decision making'.