Rates Calculation
Rates are calculated using the Gross Rental Value (GRV) multiplied by a rate in the dollar. The rate in the dollar (rate/$) is adopted by council for each financial year and advertised locally. Council rates do not attract the GST. If you have any queries about how your rates have been calculated please contact our Rates Department.
Gross Rental Value
Local Government Authorities in Western Australia levy rates against each property by determining a rate in the dollar which is multiplied by the property’s Gross Rental Value. A Gross Rental Value (GRV) is the total amount of money a property could attract in rent per year. In the event that land is vacant, or a new dwelling is under construction, the GRV is calculated using 3% of the land value
If you feel that the valuation of your property is not correct, you may lodge an objection to Landgate within 60 days of the date of issue of the first notice of valuation and rate for the financial year.
An online objection can be lodged via Landgate under How do I lodge an objection to my Gross Rental Valuation.
Lodgement of an Objection, or its subsequent conversion to an appeal, does not alter the obligation to pay the full amount of rates based on the valuation against which the objection has been lodged, by the due date specified in the rates notice.
Emergency Services Levy
The City of Bunbury collects an Emergency Services Levy via rates notices on behalf of the State Government and remits the amount back to the State Government (DFES).This levy is determined each year by the State Government.
The Emergency Services Levy funds services like the Career Fire and Rescue Service, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, Local Governments’ Bush Fire Brigades, State Emergency Service, and Multi- service DFES units. Other expenditure also includes the training of volunteer, community safety programs, emergency management planning, DFES’s Emergency Management Services and DFES’s corporate support costs.
Further information on the levy can be obtained by contacting DFES on 1300 136 099 via the DFES website.