The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has reminded the state’s property owners that there is little relationship between what goes into determining rate increases and rises in the value of property.
Speaking ahead of the Valuer-General’s release tomorrow of annual statutory land valuations for Queensland, LGAQ chief executive Greg Hallam said it was a myth that rate increases naturally mirrored increases in land values.
He said councils used sophisticated formulas to determine rates, which moved in line with the cost of providing new services and functions and maintaining and improving existing levels of service to the community.
“Local councils constantly try to minimise rate rises while ensuring that they meet the community’s expectations of maintaining standards of service,’’ Mr Hallam said.
“Let me be clear: rates do not move in lockstep with valuation increases.’’
