General rates pay for all Council spending that is not funded from any other source.
Council charges a relatively small fixed charge per property (the Uniform Annual General Charge), plus a larger amount based on the property's Capital Value. This ensures that rates are collected broadly in proportion to property values, while ensuring that all properties pay a minimum amount towards the running of the city.
In 2020/21, the Uniform Annual General Charge is set at $132 and the standard value-based general rate at 0.298677 cents per dollar of Capital Value.
The value-based general rate is charged differently to business and some farming properties, because businesses are considered to put greater pressure on Council spending and remote rural properties less pressure.
These general rate differentials are set so that business properties pay a value-based general rate which is 169.7% of the standard value-based general rate. Remote rural properties pay a value-based general rate which is 75% of the standard value-based general rate.
The criteria for the business and remote rural differentials are set out in the Council's Rating Policy.
Further operational guidelines for the remote rural differential are available here: Remote Rural Guidelines [PDF, 578 KB]