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How Nanango Shire Council
Raises Revenue
Nanango Shire Council's revenue comes from the following eight sources:
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General rates, separate rates and specific service charges for water, sewerage
and garbage collection. These rates are levied on all property owners in
the Shire
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A levy on all rate assessments which is used to support Nanango Shire's Rural
Fire Brigades (this is a State Government charge that Council is obliged
to collect)
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Fees charged for the issue or provision of consents, licences, permits, searches
and registrations
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Grants and subsidies from both the State and Federal Governments
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Contributions made by persons subdividing property in the Shire
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Charges made for the performance of specific works or the provision of specific
services for residents
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Interest on funds invested and other sundry receipts
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Loan funds borrowed for a specific project
How The General Rate Is Calculated
Because Nanango Shire Council is a not-for-profit organisation, rates are
set at the lowest possible level that it's prudent to do so.
Council's intention is that its operating capability should be increased
by at least the annual inflation rate as a minimum, and that all non
cash expenses (excluding depreciation) should be fully funded in order
to protect Council's capital base and provide for future replacement of necessary
infrastructure.
To do this, Nanango Shire Council uses a standard formula to calculate
the General Rate:
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The amount to be raised from general rates is calculated as the cost of
Council's:
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works program
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administration
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environmental health
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building inspection and monitoring
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town planning and development assessment and
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debt redemption
less the amount of fees and charges anticipated, state and federal
government grants received and any surplus from recoverable works operations.
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Council also imposes a minimum rate which it considers is the minimum
contribution that should be made by the owner of any property in the
Shire for the provision of Local Government services.
Properties located in non urban areas of the Shire pay a higher minimum
rate than those properties located in urban areas.
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This is due in part to:
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the greater length of roads servicing such properties and other service
provisions; and
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the density of land in the urban area and the greater collective
contribution made by residents there for the services provided.
Note: Developers in Nanango Shire are required to provide all necessary
infrastructure to service their development and to contribute to works external
to the development in accordance with established Council policies. Where
this occurs, a concession regarding the levying of infrastructure charges
applies.
General Rates and Minimum Rates
General Rates are calculated on the unimproved value of land as determined
by the Department of Natural Resources. This valuation is then multiplied
by the rate in the dollar set by Council.
The Differential Rates and Categories are listed below, along with the minimum
rates that apply to each category. Please note that these are annual
figures but rates notices are issued six-monthly.
Differential Rates
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Minimum Rates
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2007-2008
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Urban
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$450.00
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.0184 in $
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Rural Residential
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$450.00
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.0184 in $
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Commercial/Industrial
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$600.00
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.0364 in $
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Village
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$450.00
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.0184 in $
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Primary Production
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$450.00
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.0148 in $
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Other
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$450.00
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.0184 in $
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Group Titles
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$450.00
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.0184 in $
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Extractive A
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$5,000.00
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.0384 in $
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Extractive B
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$115,000.00
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.0384 in $
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Power Generation
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$375,000.00
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.0384 in $
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Water Usage Charges
Nanango Shire adopted a Two Part Water Tariff at the beginning of the 2001/2002
financial year. This is composed of an access charge and a usage
charge.
The water access charge for a standard 20mm water connection is
$231.00 (Nanango house - or $115.50 for vacant land) and
$298.20 (Blackbutt/Benarkin house - or $149.10 for vacant land). The
access charge does not carry with it any water allocation or annual water
usage entitlement.
The water usage charge is based on actual water usage. There are three
levels of water usage charges:
Water Usage Charges 2007-2008
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20mm Connection
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Ratios
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Nanango/Blackbutt/ Wivenhoe
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100%
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First Band kL/year
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$0.70 / $0.70 / $1.00
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0 > 320
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Second Band kL/year
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$1.20 / $1.20 / $1.40
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320 > 420
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Third Band kL/year
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$1.60 / $1.60 / $1.70
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420 >
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Ratios and band parameters vary according to the size of the connection:
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25mm - 160% - 0 > 512, 512 > 672, 672 >
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38mm - 400%, 0 >1280, 1280 > 1440, 1440 >
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50mm - 650%, 0 > 2080, 2080 > 2240, 2240 >
Note: It's the ratepayer's responsibility to periodically check their
water consumption through their water meter to ensure no leaks have occurred.
You can obtain a handy guide to help you keep track of your water usage
by clicking here
Other Charges
Apart from General Rates and Water Usage fees, the following charges can
also appear on your rates notice:
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The base rate for sewerage is $244.80 for a Nanango house ($122.40
vacant land) and $343.20 for a Blackbutt/Benarkin house ($171.60 vacant
land). The base rate applies to the first pedestal in a dwelling -
additional pedestals are charged at half the base rate for each additional
pedestal installed.
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A special rate is being levied on Blackbutt residents to service the costs
of loans raised to connect to the Wivenhoe water line and the construction
of the new sewerage treatment plant. This special rate - which will continue
until the debt is repaid - is calculated by dividing the total debt servicing
costs by the total number of connections or services available.
Special Rate - Blackbutt Sewerage:
Connected properties - $92.86
Vacant properties - $46.43 (per vacant property)
Special Rate - Blackbutt Water:
Connected properties - $61.16
Vacant properties - $30.58 (per vacant property)
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The Nanango and Blackbutt rate is $130 for an ordinary bin or a wheelie
bin. In the Bunya Mountains, the rate is $150 per household.
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Council has determined that a $10 per annum special environmental
charge will be levied equally on all rateable lands in the Shire to enable
Council to fund issues specifically aimed at the protection of the Shire's
environment.
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This is a State Government Charge - not a Council rate - that is collected
by local authorities. It's not subject to a discount. The Queensland Fire
and Rescue Authority increased this levy on 1 July 2007. Nanango Shire Council
was not involved in this decision.
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Council has been requested to collect a rural fire brigade levy of $15
on behalf of rural fire brigades from ratepayers who live in the areas covered
by these brigades. Council has decided that ratepayers owning multiple properties
with the same name on their title and in the same rural fire brigade area
need only pay a single $15 levy/per annum. Should this be applicable to you
please contact Council's Rates Department.
Discounts and Pensioner Remissions
Rate payments received by the due date receive a 15% discount on the
general rate.
However, the discount doesn't apply to water, sewerage, garbage,
the Blackbutt water and sewerage special rate, the special Environmental
Charge, water usage, interest, or the Urban or Rural Fire Levies.
In addition, Council remits 10% to pensioners with a maximum remission of
$100 per year, and the State Government offers a subsidy of 20% with a maximum
of $180 per year. Conditions apply on application.
Payment Arrangements and Interest Charges
Rates can be paid by using our
online payment system,
EFTPOS, in person at either of Council's offices (Nanango or Blackbutt) or
by posting cheques or postal orders to Council at PO Box 10, Nanango Qld
4615.
Charges on outstanding rates are calculated at 11% pa, compounded
daily.
Rate Billing Periods and Enquiries
Rates are charged half-yearly and Shire ratepayers receive their notices
in February and August each year. The Urban and Rural Fire
Levy is included on both the February and August accounts.
All enquiries about rates should be directed to Council's rates department
in Nanango on (07) 4171-6811, or Council's Blackbutt office on (07)
4163-0033. You can also email our rates department if you wish:
Rates@Nanango.qld.gov.au
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