XN000022-1991-01-11 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1991

RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991 GAZETTED

THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A MECHANISM IN THE RATING ORDINANCE FOR GRANTING RELIEF AGAINST SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN RATES,

IS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

IP RNACTED, THE BILL WILL ENABLE A LIMIT TO BE PLACED ON THE AMOUNT OF RATES PAYABLE IN ANY ONE YEAR TO AN AGGREGATE OF THE AMOUNT PAYABLE IN THE PRECEDING YEAR PLUS A PRESCRIBED PERCENTAGE OF THAT AMOUNT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE RELIEF IN A PARTICULAR YEAR AND THE RELIEF LIMIT.

COMMENTING ON THE BILL, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE MECHANISM FOR A RATES RELIEF SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN CONNECTION THE GENERAL REVALUATION OF RATEABLE VALUES NOW BEING UNDERTAKEN.

WITH

"AS DIRECTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT 15 PREPARING NEW RATEABLE VALUES FOR ALL THE ASSESSED PROPERTIES TO TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR.

** BECAUSE OF THE TIME LAG SINCE THE LAST REVALUATION THE RATEABLE VALUES WILL BE HIGHER THAN THE EXISTING ONES," HE SAID.

NEW

THE SPOKESMAN ESTIMATED AN OVERALL INCREASE OF ABOUT 80 PER CENT BUT STRESSED THAT THE ACTUAL INCREASE IN PAYMENTS BY RATEPAYERS WOULD GENERALLY BE LESS THAN THIS BECAUSE THE PERCENTAGE CHARGED ON THE NEW RATEABLE VALUES WOULD BE REDUCED.

"THE RATES RELIEF SCHEME IS A FURTHER PROVISION THAT RATEPAYERS WILL NOT BE FACED WITH EXCESSIVE INCREASES PAYMENTS IN 1991/92, HE SAID.

TO ENSURE IN RATES

OF A GENERAL

THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THE PURPOSE REVALUATION WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE TOTAL RATES BURDEN WAS EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT RENTAL VALUE OF EACH PROPERTY.

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