Rises in rates vary as councils in the Mid West and Gascoyne deliver their 2025-26 budgets

The days of COVID-inspired rates relief are well and truly over in the Mid West and Gascoyne as councils across the region outline this year’s rating models with most set to hit ratepayers’ hip pockets. The reveal of the models set to come into effect on July 1 in most cases also comes as gross rental values (GRV) for some local government areas have been revalued by Landgate. To calculate your general rates, the GRV or unimproved value amount is multiplied at the rate in the dollar amount set each year by the local authority. The WA Local Government Association tracks local government costs throughout the year and have forecasted the overall rise in costs for the 2025-26 for shires will be 3.3 per cent, however, the actual rates levied by individual councils vary widely. The City of Greater Geraldton voted on their 2025-26 budget last week, with a 3.9 per cent rates rise, meaning ratepayers on average will pay an extra $77 for rates this year. However, this is also one of the areas to be hit with new property valuation figures meaning residential property valuations in Wonthella could drop 33 per cent while Mullewa property valuations could rise by more than 72 per cent. To account for this, the city has adjusted rates in the dollar with residential GRV rates in the dollar dropping from 13.8611 cents to 10.3896 cents, non-residential (commercial and industrial) GRV properties from 13.8611 to 12.9171 cents, and unimproved value (UV) properties from 0.4828 to 0.4433 cents. This year’s review also introduced a revised rating model, which separates GRV properties into residential and non-residential categories. Meanwhile, Carnarvon has proposed a 10 per cent increase in the rate in the dollar for GRV properties in the face of an $8 million budget black hole. It comes on the back of a 4.5 per cent rise last financial year. The council says the residential rate in the dollar rise is equivalent to an average increase of $3.65 per week from the 2024-25 bills received by ratepayers in that category. The mining category is particularly hard hit, with a rise of 10 per cent in the rate in the dollar, but with that equating to an average increase of $19.30 a week. Additionally, the minimum payment has increased from $485 to sit at $1454 in line with all other rating categories this year. Many councils have introduced or proposed rates rises in the vicinity of 4-6 per cent. Shire of Mingenew CEO Matt Fanning said council last month voted for a 7.29 per cent overall rise, incorporating a 5 per cent general increase and 2.29 per cent for a road improvement program. The rise will generate an extra $190,403 in revenue. Mr Fanning said it was important to note the State Government’s audit fees had increased by 78 per cent over the past two years, insurance costs have risen by 6.2 per cent in a single year while wages have jumped by 3.75 per cent. “When discussing the rate increases it is important to identify the quantum of revenue which is generated for example a large council may only increase rates by 1 per cent and generate an additional $1 million as against our small council which would only generate $26,117 with a 1 per cent rate rise,” Mr Fanning said. In contrast, the Shire of Mt Magnet is proposing not to increase their rates this year. While not yet finalised, the GRV rate for the Shire of Dandaragan is expected to rise by 4-5 per cent. A plan to increase the mining and renewable energy UV rate up to around 10 cents in the dollar will boost income to council from $60,000 to $400,000-$500,000 a year. According to shire president Tony O’Gorman this extra income will be spent on renewing infrastructure around the shire. Properties in the Shire of Exmouth were revalued by Landgate effective July 1 last year, thus escaping rises this year, with the next valuation not due until 2030. However, their rates rose sharply for 2024-25, by 7.8 per cent. In response to community feedback, the council said when considering this year’s model they had tried to “establish a framework by which the property rate burden required to fund the services and infrastructure provided by the Shire is distributed in a fair and equitable manner”. To do that, the residential rate will form the base rate for all GRV properties with business/other properties rate in the dollar to be about 20 per cent higher than the base rate and accommodation rates in the dollar to be a further 25 per cent on the business/other category. The overall result is that they aim to reduce the amount collected in rates from $7.1 million in 2024-25 to $6.95m next financial year — or a reduction of 2.11 per cent — but with the burden falling more on rating categories other than residential. However, that’s not to say there isn’t still going to be pain for some of those paying residential bills, with minimum rates for residential properties, agreed at the council’s special meeting on June 12, jumping from $1160 in 2024-25 to $1500 for the coming year, or a rise of 29 per cent. For comparison, the minimum levied for Geraldton residential properties for next year is proposed to sit at $1300. Mid West-Gascoyne rate changes for 2025-26 Mingenew: Overall, a 7.29 per cent rates rise (5 per cent general and 2.29 per cent for road improvement program). Exmouth: 2.11 per cent decrease on average, but residential minimum rise of 2.9 per cent. Chapman Valley: Proposed rates rise of 4.5 per cent Perenjori: 4 per cent proposed rise. Irwin: 5 per cent increase in rates. Minimum rate payment of $1100. GRV split into general rate of 10.252 and transient workforce rate of 22.3841 cents in the dollar. Coorow: Proposed 6 per cent rise to be voted on at July meeting. Murchison: 6.5 per cent increase. UV pastoral at 9.932 and UV mining/prospecting and exploration at 19.830 cents in the dollar with the minimum payment rising from $900 to $1000. Morawa: 4 per cent increase for GRV, 14.25 per cent decrease for UV rural and 0.43 per cent decrease for UV mining Carnarvon: GRV rate in the dollar to rise 10 per cent, with the minimum payment increasing to $1454 for all rating categories, up from $1322., or 9.98 per cent for all categories but mining, which is hit with a near-200 per cent increase in minimum payment. Carnamah: Information available mid to late July. Shark Bay: Council has not yet set their rates budget. Northampton: Not voting on rates until mid-August. Greater Geraldton: 3.9 per cent increase Mt Magnet: A 0 per cent increase proposed, waiting on ministerial approval. Yalgoo: Information not available. Sandstone: 2.5 per cent rate increase. Meekatharra: General rates up 6.3 per cent while overall rates are up 40.56 per cent. GRV 9.8325, pastoral UV 8.7975 and non-pastoral UV at 25 cents in the dollar. Cue: 5 per cent increase for GRV residential, 5.23 per cent decrease for UV mining, and 5.57 per cent increase for UV pastoral. Three Springs: Rural UV drops from 0.9214 to 0.7964 cents in the dollar to account for valuation increases in rural properties. Other categories remain unchanged. Dandaragan: GRV expected to go up by 4-5 per cent.

Rises in rates vary as councils in the Mid West and Gascoyne deliver their 2025-26 budgets

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