With limited access to skilled staff in the rating profession, Councils are finding it increasingly difficult to attract and retain staff with the appropriate Local Government knowledge. For the past 18 months, the Metropolitan Eastern Regional Organisation (MERO) of Councils has shared the resources of a Rates Administration Manager. Four South Australian Councils are participating in this initiative with services being provided to Prospect, Campbelltown and Burnside Councils. Tea Tree Gully is the host Council.
Rosemary Munslow has been employed as the Regional Rates Administrator Manager. She said the initiative has ensured a cost effective, consistent approach in addressing rating issues, provided for a stronger influential approach when dealing with other organisations and allowed for improved efficiencies and consistency of rating functions across the region.
Rosemary provides advisory support to senior management and elected members at a strategic level and provides support and guidance to the Council’s Rate Administrators on operational issues. She is responsible for procedural and staff development, continuous improvement, system enhancements and providing information on rating issues.
“The release of the Local Government (Financial Management and Rating) Amendment Bill 2004, provided an opportunity for a collaborative and consistent approach across the eastern region Councils for a stronger submission,” Rosemary Munslow said. “The time required to assess the Bill and collate information, by each individual Council, was significantly reduced due to this collaborative approach.
“In 2005 all four Councils implemented the IBIS Rate Modelling and Valuation Analysis System. The collaboration and resource sharing approach paved the way for a seamless implementation at a reduced cost to each Council.”
A Regional Rate Administrator Forum, for rating staff in the eastern region has also been initiated. The aim of this forum is to share ideas, knowledge and initiatives, to communicate current industry issues and to facilitate training. The sharing of similar documentation and procedure manuals is reducing time that would otherwise be needed to produce these documents.
For further information contact Rosemary Munslow on (08) 8397 7310.
