When you get your rates account it is divided into several sections. Nelson’s rating system continues to be based on land value, and the general rate is set at a charge per dollar of rateable value for each rating category.

General Rate

The general rate this year is 0.40825 cents in the land value dollar, including GST.

Commercial rates

Council has adopted a policy that commercial rates are set at a level to collect 22.6% of total rates, excluding water volumetric charges.

Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC)

The UAGC covers charges for services which most residents benefit from irrespective of property value.

This year’s charge is $344.23.

Stormwater Charge

Stormwater is a separate targeted rate of $385.79.

Flood Protection Rate

The flood protection rate is a targeted rate of 0.03725 cents in the land value dollar.

Storm Recovery Charge

The storm recovery charge is a targeted rate of $300 per separately used or inhabited portion of a rating unit.

Wastewater

Another separate targeted rate is levied on all units connected to Council’s wastewater disposal system.

The residential charge will be $640.09this year, compared to $564.72 last year.

The commercial charge will be $160.02per separately used or inhabited portion of a rating unit.

Commercial properties also pay wastewater charges based on Council’s Tradewaste Bylaw.

These charges are explained in full in the Long Term Plan.

Water

Water supply charges are a targeted rate based on a fixed daily charge payable by all ratepayers with a water meter. Charges are calculated to cover the costs of the Council water supply system.

The minimum annual charge is $251.66 including GST and there is no free allowance. The cost per cubic metre of water for most users will be $2.626.

Rates payments

Council charges rates in four equal quarterly instalments.

A penalty of 10% is added to each unpaid instalment. Rates that remain unpaid the following year have a further 10% penalty added on 30 June and 31 December.