‘That’s fair’: How you responded to acting mayor’s move to ease rates

It's predicted Townsville homeowners will see an increase in their rates as council tries to balance new land values and rising costs. Here’s what you had to say about the move.

Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney at The Rockpool on The Strand. Picture: Supplied

Townsville City Council is making moves to ease the burden on ratepayers in their forthcoming budget, with a

The news broke on Monday morning, June 16, that Townsville City Council was lowering its rates to the dollar (RID) charge by 18 per cent to help cushion households against increasing land evaluations - which would’ve pushed up resident’s rates.

See what you had to say about the move below.

Talking to media on Monday, acting mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said one of the biggest decisions the council had to make in its upcoming budget was how it would calculate rates in 2025/26.

Mayor Greaney said she felt lowering the RID charge so the average resident wouldn’t experience a brutal rates shock was a fair move and in line with other Queensland councils.

Townsville City Council meeting on December 4, 2024. Cr Ann-Maree Greaney . Picture: Evan Morgan

“Council is a business, it has to deliver services to our community, and we have to look at how we can deliver services in these trying times,” Mayor Greaney said.

“So there will be a rate increase, I can say that hand on heart, but I think it’s one that’s fair.”

The exact percentage of the rate rise and how it’ll be applied will be revealed once the council’s budget is adopted on Wednesday, June 18.

Certain residents whose land value did not raise by 27 per cent will potentially see a total decrease in rates, but the measure is difficult to delineate for indivudal homes.

STILL CONFUSED? READ THE EXPLAINER HERE.

What you had to say about the rates to dollar decrease

ERICA: In other words… rates are increasing but I’m putting a spin on it

ANGELA: Bring back the pay on time discount.

ANDREW: Amazing how many homeowners don’t know how rates are calculated. Council has zero control over land values. The rate in the dollar is the only control council has, and it is lowering this by 18%, yes the amount you pay will increase in line with your increased land value but why spit at the council for playing its part in “cost of living “ considerations? The mind boggles

MONICA: Do people not realise that council have no control on land values? Not increasing the RID charge is a great offset for us.

Townsville City Council special meeting December 17, 2024. Ann-Maree . Picture: Evan Morgan

JAY: This is good news for the general rates portion of the total rates bill. What is council doing with their utilities charges?

JOE: The system is so wrong to make it so difficult for long term residents, especially pensioners and retirees, to be able to afford to stay in their forever homes! The land valuation increases should only be applied to those properties that have sold within that revaluation period, whilst those remaining occupied by long term residents only fluctuating by CPI percentages.

YVONNE: The only figure we need to know is the total amount levied, regardless of value of land. I am 100 percent positive that my son’s land in inner Brisbane is higher than mine and yet the amount he pays is lower

KENN: Lol, still an increase after valuation rises. And I bet the service component still sky rockets. What a crock.

WADE: So this headline is misleading. Council will still be increasing all rates, its just by how much that is the issue. Same ol, same ol.

JOAN: The rates went up so high over the last few years but I bet they don’t go down much. Who the hell decides our little block of land is worth twice as much as it was 10 years ago, money grab.

JOANNE: After the last round of valuations, Jenny Hill increased the rate of rates by 2% (on top of a 10% + valuations increase) and sold it as an “under inflation rate rise. The bottom line is what did you raise from rates last year, and what do you expect to raise next year? That is the true averaged increase. No doubt the council beam counters know the numbers, what are they?

STEVE: The council needs to charge the full RID as well as the cpi of 3% to all rate payers, the council is broke, and needs this extra money to balance the budget.

ROD: The one downside to booming land values, great if you are looking at selling, but part of the expense cycle for the majority. Other councils are reducing their Rid.

An earlier version of this story erroneously asserted that an average 9 per-cent rate rise was expected by Townsville City Council. This was incorrect. The Townsville Bulletin apologises for the error.

Originally published as ‘That’s fair’: How you responded to acting mayor’s move to ease rates