Northern Grampians Shire Council, located in Stawell, Victoria, like many rural councils have had to balance the needs of its local community with ensuring the fair and equitable distribution of the rate burden over its entire rate base. Relying on the rate modelling solution provided by Harbour Software, EasyRev, Council recently had to address some significant impacts arising from a revaluation combined with the rate pegging requirements in place in Victoria.

As recently reported in the Wimmera Mail Times ‘the council, confronted with a scenario where some farm rates in the shire were due to rise by between 35 and 40 percent, decided to make a 2.25 percent rate increase across residential, farming and recreation sectors. The move changed a farm-rate differential from 65 to 52 percent.’