Land value appeals make setting rates difficult

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 15, Issue 694, 8 July 1997, Page 8

Land value appeals make setting rates difficult

Ruapehu District Council's acting chief executive told councillors that one of the difficulties in setting rates was the appeal process open to owners of land and properties following Valuation New Zealand's 3-

yearly assessment of land values. He explained that the estimates prepared for the draft annual plan had been on the basis of Valuation New Zealand's assessment of property values last year but, as these are subject to appeal by ratepayers, there could be a significant reduction in the council's income from rates. He said that from the Waimarino Ward alone (where the greatest increase in rural land values had occurred) there have been 82

objections with the potential, if the appeals are successful, of a decrease amounting to $ 1 ,700,000 in land values. "It is really quite disturbing to have this uncertainty at this stage when trying to establish rates to have the 3-yearly land values established and then have them subject to appeal." He advised councillors to bear this uncertainty in mind when assessing the monetary value of the submissions they were meeting to discuss and resolve. _