• Published date: 05 April 2024
• Publication title: Oamaru Mail

It has been said that the council is looking for a 13.5% increase in rates. The new valuations are so high, ours went up by 27% . Without any increase in the amount charged per item on the rates bill, my rates will go up by at least 25% based on the new valuation

If the council increases the amount charged by 13.5%, with the new valuation that makes a rate rise of 38.5% on last year.

Please tell me I am wrong!

Taking into account the valuation increase of 27%, the amounts on my rates bill need to be reduced by 13.5% to come out with a 13.5% rates rise.

Clive Blunden

Kakanui

Dear Mr Blunden,

The proposed average increase in rates of 13.73% does not combine with the recent revaluation by QV for a larger total percentage increase.

Ratings valuations set how rates determined from valuation are shared among properties. We had some questions about this earlier this year, and our independent valuer QV answered them:

‘‘In a rising market, as we’ve experienced since the 2020 revaluation, it’s likely that your rating value will have increased, but it’s equally likely that...