Rate Comparison
We acknowledge interpreting a council’s annual report, its financial statement or rating policy can be difficult for those not practised in this field. This challenge is compounded when trying to compare councils.
The Berri Barmera Council, responding to inaccuracies recently recorded in traditional and social media, has prepared the following breakdown and comparison of its council rates and those of other the Riverland council’s.
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Rates Comparison for FY2018/2019 |
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|
Council |
Residential Capital Value |
General Rates |
NRM Levy |
Rubbish Collection |
TOTAL |
|
Berri Barmera |
$185,000 |
$1,167.15 |
$46.95 |
$216.00 |
$1,430.10 |
|
Renmark Paringa |
$185,000 |
$834.38 |
$44.66 |
$275.00 |
$1,154.04 |
|
Loxton Waikerie |
$185,000 |
$1,123.00 |
$60.75 |
$299.00 |
$1,482.75 |
‘Spending a Penny!’
In addition to rates is a community waste management system (CWMS) charge imposed by each council in the Riverland. In a metropolitan setting this effluent disposal charge wouldn’t appear on a council rates notice – but separately billed by SA Water as a sewer charge.
|
Council |
Residential Capital Value |
CWMS charge for FY2018/2019 |
|
Berri Barmera |
$185,000 |
$697 |
|
Renmark Paringa |
$185,000 |
$435 |
|
Loxton Waikerie |
$185,000 |
$514 |
Berri Barmera Council acknowledges its CWMS charge is higher than neighbouring councils and is working to reduce this charge over time, meanwhile ensuring this council maintains and invests in necessary effluent disposal infrastructure for the future.
Council rates in SA 2018-19
When compared to other Councils across the State, the following infographic shows that the average residential rate amount paid in Berri Barmera Council of $1283 sits in the mid range of rates paid across South Australia.
Find the interactive Infogram by following the link Source: Infogram by Peri Strathearn
CPI Increases versus Rate Increases for Berri Barmera Council
We all agree there is upward inflationary pressure in the cost of doing things, buying goods and contracting services. Council is not immune to this upward pressure.
Below is the average rate increase as a percentage for this council compared to the Consumer Price Index for Adelaide.
|
Residential Rate in the $ |
Increase on previous year as a % |
CPI Adelaide |
|
|
18/19 |
$0.6309 |
1.24% |
2.3% |
|
17/18 |
$0.6185 |
1.07% |
2.0% |
|
16/17 |
$0.6078 |
1.02% |
0.7% |
|
15/16 |
$0.5976 |
0.47% |
1.1% |
|
14/15 |
$0.5929 |
0.00% |
2.9% |
|
13/14 |
$0.5929 |
1.83% |
2.2% |
|
12/13 |
$0.5746 |
2.07% |
1.8% |
|
11/12 |
$0.5539 |
1.67% |
1.6% |
|
10/11 |
$0.5372 |
1.31% |
0.6% |
|
09/10 |
$0.5241 |
4.21% |
0.0% |
|
08/09 |
$0.4820 |
-0.35% |
4.5% |
|
Average % increase for the above period between 08/09 and 18/19 |
1.32% |
1.79% |
|
It is clear that Berri Barmera Council has endeavoured to set a rate increase commensurate with inflation, with the long-term trend for the average percentage increase below the average percentage increase for inflation.