FAQs

Rates are a tax levied on all rateable properties within the boundaries of the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale Municipality in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995.

The overall objective of the proposed rates in the 2025/2026 Budget is to provide for the net funding requirements of the Shire’s services, activities, financing costs and the current and future capital requirements of the Shire, after taking into account all other forms of revenue.

In Western Australia, land is valued by Landgate Valuation Services (Valuer General’s Office - a State Government agency) and those valuations are forwarded to each Local Government.

Two types of values are calculated:

• Gross Rental Value (GRV) – applies to non-rural land
• Unimproved Value (UV) – generally applies to rural land

The following are the proposed Differential General Rates and Minimum Payments for the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale for the 2025/26 financial year, to be effective from 1 July 2026.

The Shire continues to look for ways to achieve rating equity in the Shire and this rating strategy has been designed to address funding requirements in an equitable way.

The proposed rates will yield $33,871,973 in net rate revenue, which is a 4.8% increase on current year-to-date base rate calculations. This includes a 2% increase ($647,479) that will fund critical road infrastructure.

This year the Rating Strategy has been reviewed and expanded to better provide a framework of how rates is applied at the Shire and provides an overview of rating concepts such as Valuations, Differential Rates, Minimum Rates, Specified Area Rates and Concession.

Five core strategic approaches are outlined in the strategy

• Strategy One - Ensure correct valuation method is applied
• Strategy Two – Maintain Differential Rating
• Strategy Three – Rural Valuation Review
• Strategy Four – Concession Evaluation 
• Strategy Five – 2% Annual Increase in addition to CPI for Road Infrastructure Fund

Strategy One, Two and Three were included in the previous strategy and continues to focus on correct valuations and differential ratings to maintain equity, with Strategy Four and Five being added to the strategy in 2025/26.

Strategy Four aims to examine the current concession available to our residents and ensure they are aligned to encourage community aspirations.

The Shires current concessions are design to support and sustain the horticultural and agricultural industries in the Shire as well as encourage land stewardship and the protection of the natural environment. 

These concessions will be reviewed periodically to ensure they remain relevant, equitable, and aligned with community priorities. This can include the adjustment of the current concession or through new concessions to encourage activities which assists in creating a Thriving, Liveable and Connected community.

Strategy Five aims to provide funds to support the renewal or upgrade of the Shire’s aging road infrastructure. 

This strategy considers a 2% annual increase to rates in addition to CPI, with funds being placed in the Road and Bridge reserve for the purpose of renewal or upgrade of the Shire’s aging infrastructure. This will yield approximately $2m towards road projects over the next 3 years. 

If these funds are leveraged against funding opportunities that require a one third Shire contribution this would enable the Shire to potentially undertake $6m worth of road works. Alternatively, these funds can be used to fund works on roads which may not normally be eligible for grant funding. 

Please refer to our Statement of Rating Objectives and Reasons which outlines the objective for each rating category and the reason.

As part of the 2025/26 Budget Officers are proposing the introduction of the following Concession:

The budgetary impact of this concession is estimated to be around $22,000.

Submissions received will be reviewed and considered by Shire officers. All submissions will be included as an attachment in a future report to Council where they will consider the draft 2025/26 Budget.