Benalla Rural City is one of 11 councils across the state that has had over-charging issues, however, the impact on local rate-payers is minimal.
The overcharged ratepayer will be due a refund.
When the issue was initially raised it was uncertain how many property owners in Benalla would be affected, however, after council audited the payments they found only one property had been incorrectly charged.
Benalla Rural City general manager corporate Robert Barber said a decrease in rateable assessments in the business rating category identified by the Valuer General in September 2018 resulted in a rate increase of 2.26 per cent.
‘‘(That) is 0.01 per cent higher than the Victorian state government’s rate cap. The amount of extra revenue raised was $2007,’’ Mr Barber said.
Mr Barber said council was pleased to discover this only affected one ratepayer.
‘‘To address the matter, the council resolved to decrease the rates payable by the one property in the cultural and recreational rating category,’’ he said.
‘‘This was seen as the most efficient and cost-effective solution.
‘‘Under the current valuation system there is a discrepancy between the dates the council adopts its budget in late June and the date (September) the Valuer-General Victoria signs off on valuations.
‘‘Council will liaise with the Valuer-General and the Municipal Association of Victoria to ascertain if the timing of valuations can be changed to better fit the budget-adoption cycle, particularly as councils move to an annual valuation cycle from 2019 onwards.’’
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