The rural sector will shoulder a greater share of the Wattle Range Council rate burden in the coming 12 months if the draft 2024/25 budget is adopted.


The rating differentials proposed in the draft 2024/25 budget were discussed at a recent meeting of council’s audit and risk committee, which endorsed the change


The committee noted the residential capital value increases were higher than primary production this year.


“In previous years, primary production capital values were increasing at greater rates than residential,” stated the committee.


“To mitigate the increases in the past five years, Wattle Range Council has significantly reduced the rating differential between primary production and residential which has resulted in the rate in the dollar for primary production dropping by 61% over this period.


“With the increase in residential capital values being greater than primary production for 2024/25, the proposed rate in the dollars for 2024/25 will see the rate in the dollar differential increase slightly for primary production, comparative to residential.


“This is in order to mitigate the higher increase in capital values proposed in 2024/25.”