XN000022-1977-03-29 — Page 3

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1977

OBJECTIONS AGAINST NEW RATEABLE VALUES

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THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED SOME 45,000 VALID PROPOSALS FOR REDUCING THE NEW RATEABLE VALUES ASSESSED FOR 1977-78 AT THE CLOSE OF THE OBJECTION PERIOD ON MARCH 25.

COMMENTING ON THIS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS REPRESENTED ONLY 10 PER CENT OF THE 450,000 ASSESSMENTS INCLUDED IN THE NEW LISTS.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS THREE MONTHS IN WHICH TO DEAL WITH PROPOSALS, AND RATEPAYERS ARE UNLIKELY TO START RECEIVING NOTICES OF DECISION FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE PROPOSALS WILL NOW BE SORTED AS TO BLOCKS, STREETS AND DISTRICTS AND THE VALUATIONS RE-EXAMINED BY DISTRICT VALUERS IN THE LIGHT OF ANY NEW RELEVANT FACTS TO WHICH ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN. WHEN THIS EXAMINATION IS COMPLETED CASES WILL BE CONSIDERED BY AN OFFICER NOT BELOW THE RANK OF SENIOR RATING AND VALUATION SURVEYOR, WHO WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.

+IF DISSATISFIED WITH THE DECISION, A RATEPAYER MAY APPEAL TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, AND THIS HAS TO BE DONE WITHIN 21 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE OF DECISION,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +NO APPEAL IS POSSIBLE UNLESS A PROPOSAL HAS BEEN SERVED AND A NOTICE OF DECISION ISSUED.+

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED RATEPAYERS THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE LODGING OF A PROPOSAL OR APPEAL, RATES MUST BE PAID AND, IF NOT PAID BY THE DUE DATE, THE COLLECTOR OF RATES WOULD ADD A SURCHARGE. IF THE RATEABLE VALUE IS SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCED ANY RATES OVERPAID WILL BE REFUNDED.

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