Rating review rescission rejected

By Lachlan Ellis

What its author has called “the longest rescission motion we’ve ever done” has come to an end, with the motion to rescind a community consultation plan failing at Council’s 2 February meeting.

Cr Paul Tatchell’s rescission motion for the ‘Revenue and Rating Plan – Rate Strategy Review – Community Engagement’ was first raised at the Ordinary Meeting of Council (OMC) on 1 December last year.

The Community Engagement motion was mistakenly voted for by Cr Tatchell at the December meeting, and he flagged his intention to rescind the motion – but rescission motions must be lodged 96 hours before an OMC.

The 1 December OMC was the last for 2021, forcing the motion to be heard, at the earliest, at the 2 February OMC.

In his rescission motion, Cr Tatchell explained that he had several concerns regarding the Rate Strategy Review.

“We did a lot of briefings before we put together a report that was meant to go out to the public…subsequently the State Government introduced yet another tax called the windfall tax, which will have at the very least, a knock-on effect on the Rating Strategy,” Cr Tatchell said.

“I think until we get a report on the windfall tax and have it inclusive as part of what goes out to the public, it would be remiss to put it out with some fairly hefty legislation not included in it.”

The windfall tax, which will go into effect on 1 July 2023, is a tax on land “subject to a government rezoning resulting in a value uplift to the land of more than $100,000”.

For land with a taxable value uplift of more than $100,000 but less than $500,000, a tax of 62.5% will apply on the uplift above $100,000, with a 50% tax on any uplift above $500,000.

Whilst Cr Ally Munari expressed frustration about the Rate Strategy, she was also concerned the recission would “halt it and hold it back”.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-02-15/4

in the 15 February 2022 edition
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pick up a paper around your town.