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Rates
Rates & Charges are an important source of revenue accounting for approximately 50% of the Council’s income each year to provide a range of services, projects and infrastructure to the community. Rate levels are set through a rigorous budget process of review and consultation each year, where Council seeks to balance the demand for services and infrastructure with the community’s capacity to pay.
The following Rates and Charges apply in accordance with Council resolution dated 26 June 2023. Rates are calculated on each property's Assessed Annual Value (AAV) which is the rental value determined by the Valuer General.
Current Rates & Charges Guide.
GENERAL RATES CENTS IN $AAV CHARGE / MINIMUM
Industrial 9.32 $375
Public Purpose 8.56 $375
Commercial 7.55 $566
Residential 6.34 $566
Quarries or Mining 8.44 $375
Residential Rural 5.71 $566
Residential Low Density 5.71 $566
Sport & Recreation 6.98 $375
Primary Production 2.69 $375
Vacant Land 3.11 $375
FIRE LEVY
Volunteer Rate 0.33 $48
General Rate 0.28 $48
WASTE MANAGEMENT
140 litre mobile garbage bin $175
240 litre mobile garbage bin $255
Additional recycle service $120
RIVER WORKS
Lake River (per km) $Nil
General Rates
Council varies the General Rate pursuant to Section 107 of the Local Government Act 1993, by reason of use or zone of the land. The General Rate applies to each parcel of land separately valued under the Valuation of Land Act 2001, except for those exempt by statute. The General Rate is a form of tax to contribute to a wide range of essential facilities and services provided by Council.
Fire Levy
The Fire Levy collected on behalf of the State Government in 2023/2024 amounts to $715,214 (an increase in the total levy of 4.4%). The basis on which the fire service is varied, is the location of the land within the volunteer brigade district comprising of Cressy, Campbell Town, Longford, Perth & Evandale urban areas, and the general district, comprising of all other land. There is a minimum charge of $48 per property.
Waste Management
A fortnightly waste and recycling collection and Food Organic Garden Organic (FOGO) service is provided for residential and some rural properties. An additional waste collection will be provided during the Christmas / New Year period, which will result in collections for three consecutive weeks during this period. A collection calendar is available for your convenience. Property owners may request an additional service or change the size of a bin by completing a form available from the Customer Service Staff on 63977303.
All Local Government rates are GST exempt.
If you have any queries regarding your Rate Notice or calculation of rates, please do not hesitate to contact the Customer Service Staff on (03) 6397 7303.
Payment of Rates
Payment may be made in one sum of the total Rates and Charges by 31 August 2024 or in three equal instalments.
Lump Sum
A discount of 0.5% (on current rates and charges) will be given to ratepayers paying by the one sum payment method.
Instalments
Rates may be paid in three equal instalments by:
31 August 2024
30 November 2024
28 February 2025
Special Arrangements
Rate payers wishing to make special arrangements to pay their rates should contact the rates officer prior to the first due date, however the making of arrangements does not preclude charging of interest and penalty.
Pursuant to section 205 fees and charges included on the rates notice are due and payable by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd due dates. No GST is included on rates account.
Financial Hardship Assistance
A ratepayer may be eligible for support under Council's Financial Hardship Assistance if they are experiencing genuine and serious financial hardship. Application for assistance is to be provided from our Customer Service Staff.
Payment Methods:
You may choose one of the following methods for payment of rates:
Simply present your account with your payment to the cashier at the Council Office at 13 Smith Street, Longford between 8:45 am and 4:30 pm (EFTPOS available)
Credit Card
Please call 1300 886 451 (Commonwealth Bank) or 1300 729 859 (Service Tasmania) and have your credit card ready.
BPAY
Call your bank, credit union or building society to make this payment from your account. Please quote your biller code and customer reference.
BPAY View
BPAY View® sends your bills and statements straight to the same online bank you use to pay them, saving you from shuffling paper. To find out more download this pdf.
Click here to pay your rates through Service Tasmania's secure payment area.
Simply present your account with payment at Service Tasmania Shop, Town Hall, Campbell Town between 11 am and 4 pm.
Visit any Post Office to make a payment. Credit card payments not accepted.
Complete the authority on the reverse side of your rates notice and return it to:
Northern Midlands Council
PO Box 156
Longford TAS 7301
If you wish to pay by mail, simply forward your cheque marked "not negotiable", or money order to:
Northern Midlands Council
PO Box 156
Longford TAS 7301
Northern Midland Council provides a direct debit service. Please click here to find out more, if interested please click here to download a direct debit request form.
Pensioner Rate Remissions
Pensioners as at 1 July 2024 are entitled to a State Government rebate on Rates of 30 percent up to $559, or a reduced maximum of $379 if you are also a TasWater customer. This applies only to pensioner's principal place of residence on 1 July 2023, provided they satisfy the requirements of the State Government. A remission is available to a person holding a:
- Pensioner Concession Card (PCC),
- Veterans Affairs Gold Card (TPP), or
- Health Care Card (HCC) (but excludes Senior Health Card).
Council deducts previously eligible Pensioner Remissions from rates prior to issuing notices, but require new pensioners, pensioners who have recently relocated to our municipal area, or any pensioner who believes he/she should have been eligible for a Rate Remission, to complete the printable Concession Application for Rates Remission Form.
Discount Interest and Penalty
Ratepayers are encouraged to take advantage of a 0.5% discount which is allowed on rates and charges paid in full within thirty (30) days of issue (until 31 August 2024). Should any instalment not be paid by the due date, Council may require payment of the full amount due. Rates & Charges not paid before the due date will attract:
- a daily interest charge of 0.0178% (6.5% per annum) after 30 September 2024
- a 5% penalty on the total outstanding as at 1 April 2025.
- if any instalment is not paid after 21 days of the due date then the rates and charges for the whole year becomes due and Council may take recovery action without further notice.
What do I do if I am having difficulties paying my rates?
During times of severe financial hardship please phone our Customer Service Team on (03) 6397 7303 to discuss a payment arrangement.
- Ratepayers wishing to make special arrangements to pay their rates should contact the rates officer prior to the 1st due date, however the making of arrangements does not preclude charging of interest and penalty.
What happens when my land is re-valued?
The Valuer General will provide notice to you when your property values have changed under the Valuation of Land Act 2001.
Values provided are:
- The Land Value is the value of the property excluding all visible improvements.
- The Capital Value is the total value of the property, excluding plant and machinery, and includes the land value.
- The Assessed Annual Value is the gross annual rental value of the property excluding GST, municipal rates and land tax, but is not to be less than 4% of the capital value.
If you desire to object to the values of your property it should be made on a prescribed form from the Valuer General's Office and lodged within the period of 60 days after the date of the notice of the new values.
Click here to go to the Office of the Valuer-General's website.
Calculating Rates on a New Property
When you purchase a property please check that rates for the current financial period have been paid in the property settlement. Rates liability is a charge upon the land and is automatically transferred to the new owner if not paid.
Changing Your Details
It is important to keep your contact details up-to-date so you will receive your rate statements in a timely manner.
Change of Address
You can change your postal address details for your Council rates notice with the lodgement of the Change of Address form by:
- sending the form to us via email at council@nmc.tas.gov.au
- visiting our Customer Service Centre in person
- posting the form to Northern Midlands Council, PO Box 156, Longford Tas 7301
NOTE: We are unable to change postal details unless all property owners have signed the form. If you are an executor of a deceased estate we will require notification from the solicitor, guardianship, probate, or power of attorney.
Having a post forwarding service with Australia Post does not alter your address with Council, you must contact us directly.
Change of Name
Council takes the name from your title to address your rates notice, if you want to change your name on the rating account you will need to change the name on the property title. To change the names on your title you will need to contact your solicitor.
Companies
If a company owns the property and changes the registered company name, Council will need a copy of the change of name certificate. You can obtain a copy of this certificate from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Changing Ownership Details
The current property owner is responsible for the rates debt. When properties are brought or sold the rates need to be adjusted to reflect the new ownership, the Solicitor managing the sale will send notification to the Land Titles Office. Council alters its property ownership records after receiving official notification of change of ownership from the Land Titles Office, please note this can take up to 8 weeks. Council cannot accept change of ownership details from the new owner until we have received notification from the Land Titles Office.
If you would like to have your rates notice emailed to you, rather than posted or if you would like to cancel your emailed rates notice and go back to posted, please fill in the following form and we will update our records accordingly.
Please note that if you get your rates notice emailed you will not receive a paper copy.
If you choose to get sms reminders only, you will receive your original rates notice via post and then all reminders and overdue notifications via sms (no paper copy posted).