Table of Content 
 What are Supplementary Valuations?
 What is the State Revenue Office?
 How are Rates calculated?
 Differential Rates
 Municipal Charges
 Recycling and Waste Collection Service
 Change of Address
 Interest on Rates
 Arrears
 Rates Assistance and Hardship
 How to make Payment
 When to make Payment
  
 
 What are Supplementary Valuations?
In certain circumstances, valuations must be performed between general valuations. These are known as supplementary valuations. They are required when properties are:

• physically changed - for example, when buildings are altered, erected or demolished; or
• amalgamated, subdivided, portions sold off, rezoned or are affected by road construction.

Supplementary valuations bring the value of the affected property into line with the general valuation of other properties within the City. Values are assessed at the same date of the general valuation currently in use, ie. 2008 levels. The City performs regular supplementary valuations when required, normally on a monthly basis.

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 What is the State Revenue Office?
The State Revenue Office uses the site value to assess land tax under the Land Tax Act 1958. Objections to the site value must be made to the City within two months of the date of issue of the rate notice.

The 2008 Council general site valuation, or supplemementary valuation, which appears on the current rates notices for 2008-2009, will be used for land tax purposes in 2009 and 2010. Further information on the use of valuations for land tax can be found on the State Revenue Office website www.sro.vic.gov.au

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 How are Rates Calculated?
The City of Greater Geelong, like many other Councils, has chosen Capital Improved Value (CIV) for the calculation of rates. This formula for calculating general rates, excluding any additional charges or arrears, is:
General Rates = Valuation (CIV) x Rate in the dollar (differential)
For example, the calculation for a residential property worth $300,000 would be:

For details of your property's valuation and how your rates are calculated please refer to your rates notice.

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 Differential Rates
Where a Council adopts CIV, it can apply differential rates, ie. different rates in the dollar for different property classifications. Geelong has several different rates for residential, farms (with 45 per cent rebate of residential rate), vacant, commercial, industrial and other to best reflect the rate contribution required from the different property groups.

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 Municipal Charges
In addition to general rates, Council levies a Municipal charge - a set amount on each property. The levy is applied to recover some of the fixed administrative costs of the City and for 2008-2009 is $75.50.

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 Recycling and Waste Collection Service
The City's recycling and waste collection system continues to be extremely effective in reducing the amount of waste going to landfill. The automated collection system also meets Worksafe occupational health and safety requirements. This is billed as a service charge and under the Local Government Act it is a compulsory charge for all residential properties. This year's charge is $183.50.

For further information about the Recycling and Waste Collection System contact the City's Waste Advisory Service
on 5227 0270.

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 Change of Address
Recent changes to the Local Government Act require property owners and ratepayers to advise of any changes in ownership and mailing address. This needs to be in writing and signed by the property owner.

For more information contact the Customer Service Centre . 

Delays in mail or payments due to an incorrect Address are not considered to be an acceptable excuse for late payment of rates.

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 Interest on Rates
If you are unable to meet the due dates, interest will be charged at 12.00 per cent per annum on amounts unpaid. Interest is backdated to 1 July 2008 or the instalment due date.

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 Arrears
Arrears should be paid immediately as they will continue to accrue interest and may become subject to collection action. Arrears are rates and charges that were due in a previous rating period and payment should have been made.

For more details about your payment options, or if you have any difficulty meeting your rate payments, please contact the City on 5227 0270.

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 Rates Assistance and Hardship
The City recognises that some ratepayers may have difficulty paying rates and as a result has available an extensive range of rates assistance measures.

1. Pensioner Rebate
If you hold a current Pensioner Concession Card (not a Health Care Card) or a Veteran Affairs Gold Card (which stipulates TPI or War Widow), you may claim a rebate on your sole or principal place of residence. The rebate is 50 per cent of the total rates and charges to a maximum of $178.60. The rebate does not apply for the fixed Municipal Charge. New applications can be made through Customer Service Centres and must be lodged by 30 June 2009. If you received the rebate last year you do not have to reapply.

2. Rates Deferral
The City will assist ratepayers including pensioners who are experiencing hardship by creating an individual payment plan. This may include deferral of rates payment, in full or part, depending on individual circumstances. Please contact the City's Customer Service team on 5227 0270 for further information or write directly to the City attention Financial Services - Revenue. Confidential appointments with an officer can be arranged.

3. A Waiver of Rates
The City wrote to ratepayers who may have been eligible for the one-off Rates Waiver last year. If you have not already received the waiver and meet the criteria you are encouraged to apply:

The three qualifying criteria are:
Household income under $41,318.
No property improvements in the last 24 months that required a building permit.
The 2008 property valuation (the Capital Improved Valuation CIV) has increased by more than 50 per cent from the previous 2006 property valuation.

The waiver does not apply to the Recycling and Waste Services Charge and Municipal Charge. The waiver can only be claimed once during the Valuation Period of 2008-2010. Qualifying ratepayers will be entitled to a 'one-off' waiver of upto 50 per cent of the dollar amount that their rates increase for the 2008-2010 financial year. This reflects the increase that occurred as the result of the new revaluation. 
 
4. Centrepay Option
Centrepay enables Centrelink Customers to pay a portion of their rates as a direct debit deduction from their fortnightly Centrelink entitlements.

Please call us on 5227 0270 to discuss a payment arrangement to best suit your needs. 

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 How to make Payment
 
Internet: Via online application form .
Direct Debit: Via online application form .
BPAY: register with your financial institution.
Credit card: over the telephone on 13 18 16 or in person at any City Customer Service Centre
In person: at a City Customer Service Centre or any Australian Post Office
Centrepay: upon application by Centrelink recipients
Mail: to PO Box 104 Geelong, Australia 3220 (Please make cheques payable to: City of Greater Geelong)

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 When to make Payment
In Full;
Payment in full on or before 15 February 2009.

By Instalments;
Four payments on or before the following dates:
30 September 2008
30 November 2008
28 February 2009
31 May 2009

To be eligible to pay by instalments, you must pay your first instalment amount in full on or before the due date of the 30 September 2008.

Part Payments;
May be made at any time with the full amount due on or before 15 February 2008.

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