YOUR RATES

I sent an email to the CEO of Mosman Park about the rates and typically apartments rates are very high in my opinion and lots of others as well.

This was his reply:

Council can indeed set up differential rates for a variety of situations.  Typically this is done to differentiate between commercial and residential, on the basis that commercial properties generate significantly more demand on Town infrastructure (roads, parking, signage, line marking, ranger services etc.).  There is a clear logic to this as it fits with the user pays principle.

In terms of your suggestion to set up differential rates for units/townhouses/villas to a different rate to houses, I make the following observations.  The difference in rates between units/townhouses/villas and houses, is already set in place when Gross Rental Value is calculated by the State Government, as it effectively provides an inbuilt mechanism for the scale of rates that exists between the various housing types.   Single houses worth more, are rated higher.  Similarly, units/townhouses/villas, worth less, are rated lower.

The suggestion you are putting forward which adds even further differentiation than already exists, might be seen to be a form of social welfare, in which those that own single houses provide a subsidy to those that own units/townhouses/villas, even though the single house owners are already likely to be paying higher rates.    

Whether Council sees this as desirable will be considered during the budget process and will be reflected in their final position on the budget.  Thanks for your email, as it is good for debate on these matters and helps councillors consider these issues in their decision making.

For the people that feel that their rates are unjust step one is to go to the Valuer General's office and complain about their rental valuation and you have to give examples of similar properties that are currently being rented for the price you feel is justified.

Do not sit on your hands do something about it and let your feelings be known to your Council as they are the ones that will set the rate in dollar that you will be charged. You cannot always leave it up to others, dont complain if you dont do anything about it.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK AN THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!