FAQs

Rates are a tax levied on all rateable properties within the boundaries of the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale municipality in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995. 

The overall objective of the proposed rates in the 2023/24 Budget is to provide for the net funding requirements of the Shire’s services, activities, financing costs and the current and future capital requirements of the Shire, after taking into account all other forms of revenue. 

In Western Australia, land is valued by Landgate Valuation Services (Valuer General’s Office - a State Government agency) and those valuations are forwarded to each Local Government. 

Two types of values are calculated - Gross Rental Value (GRV) which applies to non-rural land; and Unimproved Value (UV) which generally applies to rural land

The following are the proposed Differential General Rates and Minimum Payments for the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale for the 2023/24 financial year, to be effective from 1 July 2023.

The Shire continues to look for ways to achieve rating equity in the Shire and this rating strategy has been designed to address funding requirements in an equitable way.

For all rating categories the proposed rate in the dollar represents a 5.8% increase.

The proposed rates will yield $29,302,382 in net rate revenue.

Eliminating the GRV vacant rate category

After careful consideration, it has been determined that the original objective of the GRV Vacant rate category, which aimed to discourage property owners from land banking, was not being effectively achieved.  Only around half of the rate payers were being penalised by being placed in this category.  

Additionally, the Shire consistently receives numerous complaints throughout the year since the ratepayers have no control over the lack of development on their vacant land.  To address these concerns, the suggestion is to merge the GRV Vacant rate category with GRV Residential which will help resolve these identified issues.  

Please refer to our Statement of Rating Objectives and Reasons which outlines the objective for each rating category and the reason.

Submission received will be reviewed and considered by Shire officers. All submissions will be included as an attachment in a future report to Council where they will consider the draft 2023/24 Budget.

The draft 2023/24 Budget has been developed using the following principles discussed and agreed with Elected Members at budget workshops:

•    Focus on long-term financial sustainability of the Shire;

•    Capacity building to manage the Shire’s growth; and

•    Funding the Shire’s financial requirements in an equitable way.

The draft 2023/24 Budget includes the following projects and initiatives:

• $4 million for road upgrades, including:
  • Hopkinson Road
  • Briggs Road
  • Larsen Road
  • Nettleton Road
  • Nicholson Road/Foxton Drive
  • Mundijong + King Road intersection 
  • Bishop Road 
  • Mundijong Road
  • Kingsbury Drive
• $370, 000 for our Road Reseal Program, for the following roads:
  • Holmes Road, Oakford 
  • Butcher Street,
  • Baldwin Road, Serpentine 
  • Senior Court,
  • College Court 
  • Millers Road
• $1.1 million for Facility upgrades, including:
  • Briggs Park Changeroom 
  • Briggs Pavilion Main Hall 
  • Byford Kindy
  • Landcare SJ Building 
  • Mens Shed
  • SJ Community Recreation Centre
  • Youth Service Facility
• $1.2 million transferred to Reserve Funds for future road and community projects
• Increased resourcing for tree pruning and tree maintenance
• $244,000 for playground upgrades
• $185,000 for a new public toilet at Jarrahdale Cemetery
• $110,000 to purchase a new verge slasher and ute with spraying rig for rural verge maintenance              

The following projects will be delivered entirely with State Government funding:

• $9 million to progress Stage 1A of the Keirnan Park Sporting and Recreation precinct project.
• $785,000 to complete design for upgrades to Kargotich, Orton and Soldiers Roads (construction to be carried out in 2023/24)
• $800,000 for Stage 2 of Byford Skate Park