XN000022-1981-05-08 — Page 9

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1981

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CHANGES TO RATING ORDINANCE

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A BILL WHICH PROPOSES A NUMBER OF CHANGES OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE NATURE TO THE RATING ORDINANCE IS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

AMONG THE MORE IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL ARE I

(A) FOR FUTURE REVIEWS OF RATEABLE VALUES THE GOVERNOR WILL DESIGNATE A DATE BY REFERENCE TO WHICH VALUES ARE TO BE DETERMINED. SINCE RENTS TEND TO CHANGE RAPIDLY OVER EVEN SHORT PERIODS, THIS PROPOSAL WILL HELP TO SECURE GREATER UNIFORMITY IN THE LEVEL OF RATEABLE VALUES.

(B) IN FUTURE, VALUATION LISTS WILL BE ON DISPLAY TO

THE PUBLIC ONLY IN THE YEAR FOLLOWING A GENERAL REVALUATION. HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVIDED AT BOTH THE TREASURY AND RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT WHEREBY RATEPAYERS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING ASSESSMENTS AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR. THIS PROPOSAL WILL NOT AFFECT A RATEPAYER'S RIGHT TO OBJECT TO AN ASSESSMENT EACH YEAR.

(C) IN FUTURE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE TREASURY TO CHARGE RATES ON AN INTERIM VALUATION FOR UP TO 24 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ISSUE OF THE DEMAND NOTE INSTEAD OF 12 MONTHS AS PRESENTLY PROVIDED. ALTHOUGH IT IS UNLIKELY THAT IT WILL OFTEN BE NECESSARY TO BACK-DATE ASSESSMENTS TO SUCH AN EXTENT THE PROPOSAL WILL EASE THE BURDEN ON THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT AT TIMES WHEN IT IS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH OTHER WORK.

(D)

IN KEEPING WITH THE ABOVE AMENDMENT IT IS ALSO PROPOSED TO INCREASE FROM 12 TO 24 MONTHS THE PERIOD IN WHICH A RATEPAYER MAY CLAIM A REFUND OF RATES.

(E) A NUMBER OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS CONCERN THE

MANNER IN WHICH PREMISES ARE EXEMPTED FROM RATES, BUT PROVISION IS ALSO INCLUDED TO CONFIRM THE PRACTICE OF EXEMPTING FROM RATES DOMESTIC UNITS IN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AND COTTAGE AREAS MANAGED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY,

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT STRESSED THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS DID NOT PRESAGE ANY EARLY REVIEW OF RATEABLE VALUES.

ON THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND FROM 12 TO 24 MONTHS THE MAXIMUM PERIOD THAT RATES CAN BE CHARGED ON INTERIM VALUATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDE THAT RATES ON AN INTERIM VALUATION OF MORE THAN 12 MONTHS WILL NOT BECOME CHARGEABLE UNTIL AFTER DECEMBER 1981.

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