Rates reform: landlords lose, pensioners win

Owners of the city’s most expensive properties, some of whom are said to have dodged close to $100,000 in charges every year, have been targeted by council’s first piece of rates reform.

Meanwhile, the city’s pensioners will get a 6% boost to their “already generous” rates discount to help shake-off cost-of-living pains.

Logan City Council’s discount for ratepayers who pay their bills on time has been capped to include only owner-occupiers of residential 1 properties – 84% of all owner-occupiers.

The new restriction, outlined in this year’s budget, excludes businesses and investors from receiving the early-payment bonus.

Mayor Jon Raven took rates reform to the election in March this year, saying the current “rates system isn’t fair”, with some paying too little and others too much.

In a speech at today’s budget meeting, Cr Raven said council was creating the framework to “make sure that our rates system is fair”.

“In challenging times, this council has begun the important work of rates reform,” Cr Raven said in a speech.

“Rates reform has begun this year by removing the massive discounts ratepayers were receiving. Some of them were receiving up to $97,000 a year.

“This saving has been given back to our residents by fixing the early payment discount to $120 a year for owner-occupiers in the residential 1 category.”

While ratepayers have been hit with a minimum 4.61% increase to their bill, Logan’s pensioners were given some reprieve.

“As we manage our city’s finances with this responsible budget, we’re also helping to relieve cost-of-living pressure on our seniors,” Cr Raven said.

Pensioners will see a 6% increase to their rates discount and close to 10% taken off their waste charges.

“They’ll now be getting some of the biggest discounts offered by any council across south-east Queensland,” Cr Raven said.

Today’s budget outlined a rates hike of 4.61% – an additional $139.10 per year or $2.68 per week – for Residential 1 properties on the minimum charge.

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