FARMERS SLAM HIGH RATES
February 07, 2007
Section: News
FARMERS in Kiama Municipality are up in arms about being forced to pay double the rates of their Shoalhaven neighbours.
Under the current rate structures, a $1 million property in Kiama would attract rates of $2282.
In Shoalhaven City Council the same property would only attract a rate of $1063 a $1219 difference.
While the base rate for Shoalhaven farmers is $342, Kiama residents pay $577 for their base rate, coupled with an ad valorem rate 0.0985 cents in the dollar dearer than Shoalhaven.
Adding salt into the local farmers wounds the Kiama goods tax rate of 0.17055 cents in the dollar for rural properties in Kiama is marginally higher than that of the residential rate.
Half rate
Shoalhaven City Council on the other hand charges their farmers exactly half the residential rate in the dollar, making a massive difference to their overall rate payment.
Just the fact that the farmland rate is higher than the residential is incredible in a region apparently intent on maintaining prime agricultural land let alone in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years, local farmer Lynne Strong told the Kiama Independent.
Its easy to see why Shoalhaven City Council view commercial agriculture as a sacred cow and difficult to see why Kiama council cant get beyond the blinkered view of agriculture as a cash cow revenue raiser for their internal coffers.
Kiama council is saying agriculture is something we value lets ensure we milk every possible dollar out of it.
Once upon a time farmers in the Kiama LGA where known as unpaid park keepers now they are effectively being punished for providing the service.
Despite the hefty difference in rates between the two areas, Kiama general manager Michael Forsyth was quick to point out that it wasnt all bad news for local farmers with council having voted to cap the residential base rate for farmers for the past two years.
We are trying to help rural land owners by capping the base rate, he said.
As far as comparing rates it is like comparing apples and oranges, there is simply no point.