Christchurch City Council redesigns rates invoices
23 June 2003
New rates invoices have been designed by the Christchurch City Council
to fulfil legal requirements of the Local Government (Rating) Act
2002, which become effective on 1 July, 2003 - impacting on property owners
nationally.
Some rating changes became law on that date, and their effect
on ratepayers
will be explained in detail in a pamphlet to be sent out with
the new rates bills in July as part of the first instalment.
The biggest
change in rates relates to who is responsible for paying rates
and how properties are rated.
The payment of rates has shifted from
the occupier of the property to the owner of the property, e.g.
the owner of a block of shops will now
receive the rate account for the entire property rather than
the individual tenants.
Depicted in the pamphlet is a sample of
the new invoice, complete with arrows to help explain every detail
on the bill.
The newly designed rates invoice includes rates for
both the Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Regional
Council (ECan), as it has in
the past. This avoids unnecessary duplication in collection
costs of about $1.5m for Christchurch ratepayers.
The fresh format
also aims for clearer breakdown of rating liability between the
City Council and ECan. Instalment one will be calculated as
25% of last year’s annual rates with instalment two, to be issued
in October, reflecting the new rates payable for 2003/2004.
For more
details ring the Rates Hotline (03) 941-8423, email ratesinfo@ccc.govt.nz or visit website www.ratesinfo.ccc.govt.nz
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