Two major NT regional councils announce rates and charges increase for 2020/2021 financial year

TWO major NT councils have increased their rates and charges for the upcoming 2020/21 financial year

TIWI Islands and East Arnhem regional councils have increased their rates and charges for the 2020/21 financial year.

Through council reports, Tiwi Islands Regional Council chief executive Valerie Rowland said the increase was towards the lower end of annual rates increase.

“Tiwi Islands Regional Council approved a 2 per cent increase in rates and garbage charges,” she said.

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Generally the proposed increases in fees and charges has been limited to between 2 per cent and 4 per cent.

The increase will see the council’s total revenue from rates increase by more than $50,000 with a total pool of $2,586,958 to be earnt from rates and charges.

Tiwi Islands residents will also be charged $717.47 a year for garbage collection per dwelling that will lead to the council’s garbage revenue increasing from $551,000 to $562,000 for the 2020/21 financial year.

Commercial ratepayers will be subject to a 3.64 per cent increase in their rates.

East Arnhem Regional Council’s revenue raised from rates also increased, from $4.05m in 2019/2020 to more than $4.25m – an increase of almost 5 per cent.

“Council declared … it intends to raise for general purposes the amount of $4,255,081 by way of rates,” chief executive Dale Keehne said.

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“Council declared a charge of $1827.25 per annum in respect of the garbage collection services it provides.”

Residential properties will pay rates of $2862.17 a year while commercial ratepayers will fork out $3389.46 per annum.

The waste charges will provide residents a biweekly kerbside collection service of up to two 240-litre bins for residences and one 240-litre bin for businesses.