Correct listing can reduce uniform rate charge

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 256, 27 September 1988, Page 3

Correct listing can reduce uniform rate charge

If you occupy more than one property and they are neighbouring, you should only be paying the Waimarino District Council's Uniform Annual General Charge once.

However, you must have your n a m e recorded as occupier on the Valuation Department's V427 slip for this to happen. Also, the land must be "contiguous", o r

neighbouring. Two properties across the road from each other, with the same person listed as occupier will also be levied just once. At the last district

council Finance and Administration Committee meeting the councillors were told that three cases had been referred to staff where an occupier had been charged the UAGC on each property they occupied. The charge is $100 for each ratepayer. Staff told the councillors that the name

that appears on the valuation slip is technically the occupier. Where properties that are occupied by one ratepayer but listed under more than one name, council staff have little choice but to levy the UAGC to each recorded occupier. In his report t o council the district

manager said in one . case the properties were in the names of various members of a family. "On seeing the advantage of having a single occupier's name, these properties have n o w been listed (under one name)," states the manager in the report. "This was done after the rates were levied."

The amounts concerned in respect to the three enquiries totalled $1000, the committee heard. In discussing the issue Cr Bruce Thompson said he felt s o m e ratepayers did not fully understand the matter, and that they should be better informed. Cr Gould said the

charges should stand this year. "Our only safeguard is the technical requirement," she said. "Once they've done it (listed contiguous properties under one name) then OK, they get the reduction." Mayor Garrick Workman said the UAGC had been in place for a year, and ratepayers should be aware of the procedure. "They must be very blase about spending money if they aren't aware of it," he said. The councillors decided to recommend to full council that the amounts not be written off. They also recommended that ratepayers be advised that if they list the properties they occupy under one name, they will incur the UAC just once. The properties must be contiguous, ie, they must border each other. Ratepayers would be sent the information in the next rate demand letters. These recommendations go to full council tomorrow night.