Shire of Murray

How Your Rates Are Calculated

The Shire of Murray applies a Differential Rating System. All land except land that is exempt, is rated according to its Gross Rental Value or Unimporved Value. A Gross Rental Value is used for land within town sites and other land as approved by the Minister for Local Government where the land is used predominently for non-rural purposes. The Unimproved Value is is used for the remaining land within the Shire (land predominently used for rural purposes. Rates are calculated by multiplying a property’s valuation by the rate in the dollar set by Council, and are subject to a minimum payment also set annually by the Council.

 
Council determines rates on the basis of raising the revenue required to meet the deficiency between the total estimated expenditure proposed in the budget and the estimated revenue to be received from all sources other than rates. As required under the Local Government Act 1995, Council advertises its intended rating structure annually requesting submissions from ratepayers prior to the adoption of the Budget. Council endeavours to fairly distribute its rate burden throughout the district by way of differential rating including adopting a minimum rate payment for each differential rating category.

Emergency Services Levy (ESL)

Local Governments are required to collect the State Government’s Emergency Services Levy (ESL) which funds the services provided by the Fire and Emergencies Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA). This levy is deatiled separately on your rates notice. Enquiries regarding the ESL may be directed to FESA on: 
1300 136 099 or by visiting the FESA website.      

Changes to Ownership or Postal Details

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1995, when a person, whether as principal or agent, sells or otherwise disposes of land the owner/agent must advise Council in writing within 21 days of the change in ownership giving full details of the purchaser.

Please advise Council promptly in writing of any changes in your address. There is an obligation on property owners to ensure that Council has the correct address for service of notices. To change your postal details using Council’s online facility please click here

Failure to advise Council of changes in property ownership or postal details may result in your rates account being issued to an incorrect owner or address and subsequently the incuring late payment penalties.

Interim Rates

Some ratepayers may receive amended rate accounts during the year. This occurs when the Valuer General considers the value of a property has changed. There are many reasons for issuing an interim rate account, the most frequent being:

• A new property
• Improvements to the property
• A demolition of the improvements
• Additions to existing improvements
• Requests for rubbish bins

The Shire issues an annual account for each property following the adoption of its Budget. The account is based on property information held as at 1 July and rates levied are for the period 1 July to 30 June the following year. After the original date of issue, if there are any changes which affect the account payable, an interim account is required to be issued.

When revised valuation information has been received by the Shire it is necessary to update this information on your rates account and process any changes to the rates and charges payable for the current year and in some cases, for previous years.

The interim account may involve an increase or decrease in the amount payable depending on the change in valuation. Interim accounts are due and payable within 35 days of the date of issue, in some circumstances instalment options will be available however this depends on the date the interim account is issued.

Objection to Property Valuation

If you feel that the valuation applied to your property is incorrect, you can lodge an objection with Landgate’s Valuer General’s Office within 60 days of the issue of your rates notice. For further information please contact Landgate’s Valuer General’s Office on:
(08) 9429 8400 or visit the Landgate Website.