In 2025/2026 approximately 63% of Council’s operating revenue will come from overall rates revenue. Council plans to raise $26.801 million from general rates (excluding Regional Landscape Levy and service charges).
Council’s rating strategy uses a combination of a fixed charge on every rateable property and a differential or variable rating system, based on land use, when calculating general rates.
The fixed charge component of $683.90 for 2025/2026 applies to every rateable property and will raise approximately 38% of Council’s gross general rate revenue.
The differential or variable rating component that raises the remainder (62%) of Council’s gross general rate revenue is determined by multiplying the individual property value (capital value provided by State Valuation Office) by the differential cents in the dollar rate adopted for each separate land use category i.e.
Council has determined that it will require an increase in the overall general rate revenue equivalent to 7.81% over the previous year (2024/2025) (excluding the Waste Service Charge and Growth).
The Waste Service Charge (WSC) reflects the cost of providing the kerbside waste service provision to the community and is charged on the basis of the service being available at the property. The WSC was introduced four years ago when it was separated from general rates to highlight the cost of waste management.
The WSC is charged on the basis of the service being available at the property and will be $344.00 for 2025/2026 financial year and will be charged irrespective if the land owner/occupier is using the service or not. It will exclude vacant land and primary production where there is no dwelling on the land.
In terms of residential rates, the average residential ratepayer will pay $1,441.88 excluding the WSC, an increase over last year of $99.00 per annum.
The South Australian Local Government Association comparative rates data report (2024/2025) provides the following information on the average residential rates for South Australian Councils:
