NoMoreRates.com
THE NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO REFORM THE COUNCIL RATING SYSTEM

No Cheese For Ratepayers

The lack of any new government funding for councils in the budget will impact almost immediately on ratepayers as local and regional councils finalise their rates increases for the coming year.

NoMoreRates founder David Thornton said today that, despite earlier promises, the governmant has failed to address any of the recommendations from last year’s Independent Rates Inquiry which would have reduced the burden on ratepayers.

If most taxpayers will get a tax cut equivalent to a block of cheese, ratepayers won’t even get that. And renters won’t be any better off as their landlords will be forced to increase rents to cover increases in council rates.

David Thornton said ‘Despite a proposal to ‘inflation-proof’ the Rates Rebate Scheme the truth is that rates rises will be well above the current rate of inflation – resulting in a worsening situation for those ratepayers, particularly those on low and fixed income.’

NoMoreRates will now renew its battle to have the Independent Rates Inquiry recommendations addressed urgently by both central government and local councils.

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