By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has flagged major concerns over farmers\u2019 rates in Moorabool Shire Council\u2019s upcoming draft budget, citing \u201can average farm rate increase of over 16 per cent\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a media release, the VFF expressed its frustration at the proposed increase, urging Council to apply any rates increases more fairly among different types of ratepayers.<\/p>\n
VFF President Emma Germano said the proposed increase was yet another blow to farmers by Council, which has been \u201cunable to set a flexible rating strategy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDisappointingly Moorabool Shire Council has yet again decided to force a greater rate burden onto the shire\u2019s agricultural sector with a proposed 16.84 per cent increase to the average farm rate assessment,\u201d Ms Germano said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs this is a particularly busy time for farmers in the region with crops being sown, the VFF is concerned that many local farmers will be oblivious to Council\u2019s proposed rate hike. They therefore have little ability to be consulted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe increase represents significant rates shock for farmers and will hurt business growth and productivity which are ultimately needed to help create local jobs, and to help protect farm businesses into the future. It also represents one of the highest farm rate increases across all Victorian rural and regional councils for the year ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adding insult to injury, Ms Germano said, was that while farmers will see their rates increase by over 16 per cent on average, \u201cresidential ratepayers will see no change to the average rate assessment under Council\u2019s proposed budget\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a manifestly unfair and inequitable position that Council is choosing to take. As the VFF has suggested to Council in previous consultations on its budget and rating strategies, a dynamic rating strategy must be adopted that sees the active use of differential rating powers to counteract the valuation asymmetries between different property classes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis system has been successfully employed by other Councils such as Ararat, Mansfield and Pyrenees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Central Ward Councillor Paul Tatchell has been perhaps the most ardent opponent to the \u2018Fair Go Rates System\u2019 at Moorabool Shire Council, the name of which he says is \u201ca masquerade that shifts the blame to local government\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis certainly exposes the Fair Go Rates System for what it really is. The State Government have said they\u2019re going to review the system, but they haven\u2019t done anything. It\u2019s all about money, they\u2019re addicted to collecting taxes in one form or another,\u201d he told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty disgusting. This is my eleventh year of trying to get fairness and equity into rural rates, and I\u2019m continually outvoted\u2026we have third, fourth, fifth generation farmers who are hanging on. Our farmers are saying \u2018Why are you picking on us? Why do you continually go after us for the big spend?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir costs have gone through the roof. It\u2019s a tough business, they\u2019ve gone through a lot of problems. Fertiliser costs have gone through the roof, the prices aren\u2019t stable, and interest rates have gone through the roof for farmers just like everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councillors will vote on whether to adopt their Budget at the Unscheduled Meeting of Council on Wednesday 17 May.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has flagged major concerns over farmers\u2019 rates in Moorabool Shire Council\u2019s upcoming draft budget, citing \u201can average farm rate increase of over 16 per cent\u201d. In a media release, the VFF expressed its frustration at the proposed increase, urging Council to apply any rates increases more fairly […]<\/p>\n