Rates We send an annual rates bill to all property owners in the Region. Invoices arrive in your mailbox in August each year and payment is due on or before 25 September. Your 2009-10 Rates explained For more information about rates see our frequently asked questions This year we continue the work set out in our Long Term Council Community Plan 2009 - 19 (Community Plan) We are planning to spend $41.7 million in combined revenue across the Region in 2009-2010. This compares with our 2008-2009 spending of $37.2 million. Where will this $41.7 million in combined revenue be spent? We remain committed to our core business: - Water quality and quantity
- Sustainable land management
- Flood protection
- Native habitat protection
- Transport
Our Your Rates Explained brochure offers a more detailed explanation of how every $100 of rates paid to Horizons will be spent. About your rates invoice As a Regional Council we are a completely separate organisation to your city/district council. We began sending your rates invoice to you directly in 2002, rather than having your city/district council collect it for us, because we believe you need to know more about how your money is spent. We rate on capital value for the general rate, as directed by the Local Government (Manawatu - Wanganui Region) Reorganisation Order 1989, which established the Council. The general rate funds a large range of activities which every ratepayer may benefit from. Other types of rates Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC) is a fixed rate applied to every rateable property in the Region. It is used to fund activities which every ratepayer benefits equally from. Uniform Annual Charge (UAC) is a fixed rate applied to ratepayers who benefit from a specific type of work. It is not assessed on capital value like the general rate. Uniform annual charges include Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI), Regional Parks, and Habitat Protection. Transport rate: Everyone pays a transport rate that goes towards land transport planning and road safety. Ratepayers who have public transport and Total Mobility services available in their area contribute to this also through the transport rate. This rate is different depending on whether your property is urban or rural – because urban properties receive most benefit from passenger services they pay about 90% of the funding required. River and drainage scheme rates This rate will vary according to the benefit received from stopbanks, pump stations, drainage systems and other flood protection facilities. If your property is at a high risk of flooding, then you pay a higher rate as you receive greater benefit from the protection. If you live further from a waterway, you still pay for the benefits of flood-protected roads, shops and services, but at a lower rate. Rates remissions All remissions are subject to conditions and criteria so for more information, or to find out if you qualify, please contact us for a copy of our full rates remissions policy. To apply for a remission please download, print and complete the appropriate form and send to us. Application for remission of rate penalties Application for contiguous properties Application for remission for non profit organisation Application for amendment of Uniform Charges on contiguous properties owned by the same ratepayer For more information on our rates remission policies please click here Refunds for rates overpaid or paid in error The council will refund overpaid rates, where credit exists after allowing for the current installment, and an application is made in writing. The council will also refund rates that have been paid in error, for example where there has been a change of ownership and automatic payments by the previous owner have not been cancelled. (proof of payment must be provided ie bank statement) An application for refund needs to identify the property, specify the amount to be refunded and provide the correct instructions for a cheque refund to be issued. Please contact us if you have any queries.
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