[Simone Fisher]

Hi, has anyone had any experience with changing the name of a rate category/sub-category? We’re planning on changing the name of our Residential Ordinary Rate Category & sub-category for 2014/2015 to add meaning to the sub-category name & to fix compliance with sec 529.
Apart from the name change no other changes are being made & the assessments that have always been in the category/sub-category will remain the same.
I’m wondering if I should be sending new declarations of rating categories or as it is a change to the rate category name to correct an anomaly only & not a change to the rate structure would declaration of the category on the Rates & Charges Notice with the usually Act references & categorisation objection information be sufficient.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Simone

[Cherie Muir]

Hi Simone
Sounds like all residential ratepayers are affected by the name change? I’d do the letters for a few reasons: 1) compliance , 2) fresh direct engagement with your ratepayers about their categorisation, and 3) good PR – you don’t want 100’s of calls after the fact when you could have addressed and explained the change upfront. Your letter could be both a declaration and an explanation of change (you might even get some ratepayers coming forward as a result of the letter saying their category isn’t right and then you can investigate – so good house-keeping).
If it it means 1000’s of letters maybe your mailhouse could get them out for you – I guess the postage $ will hurt, but I reckon you need to do it and moreso if you regularly get ratepayers challenging whether they are in Residential ordinary or the sub category.
Cherie

[John Towers]

Hi Simone,

My first question is why do you want to change the name of your ordinary rate? You are required to have an ordinary rate, no matter as you need something for properties to default into. My suggestion would be to leave it as “Residential Ordinary” & that will mean everything but the sub-category/s.

Changing the name of the sub-category for clarity I understand.

Because it’s a name change, technically you have to notify the ratepayers so that they have the right to object etc. Otherwise some smarty might look at their notice & say we were never told this is our category & go to court & your structure then may be subject to litigation.

I know that’s not the answer you wanted but it’s the rules.

JT

[Rod Taber]

We, under the advice of the Dept changed the description of sub category – “Residential Rural” to “Residential Other” -( their recommendation of wording) due to the limiting definition of Residential Rural in the dictionary. We included the change of description in the setting of fees and charges schedule/policy for the then up coming Financial year, (which as you know goes on display for public submission for 28 days). New description was adopted by Council and the new category appeared on annual rate notice – we deemed this as a declaration of new category as the “Apppeals against a declaration of category” actions appears on the rate notice anyway, and they have 30 days to appeal. Not one enquiry or appeal lodged.

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