Rates facts, myths and FAQs

Rates facts

Important information about rates and charges for 2025-26

Allowable rate increase:

  • Kiama Council approved to increase its total rate income for the financial year 2025-26 by 3.7%
  • The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) set the allowable rate increase (rate peg) for all NSW Councils.

How are Residential, Rural Residential and Farmland rates calculated?

The total rate bill is calculated by Land Value x Rate in $ = Amount + Base Amount = Total Rate Bill

Residential (example):

Land Value

Rate in $

Amount

Base Amount

Total

$1,000,000

0.00084270

$842.70

$973.00

$1,815.70

 

Rural Residential (example):

Land Value

Rate in $

Amount

Base Amount

Total

$1,000,000

0.00094900

$949.00

  $973.00

$1,922.00

 

Farmland (example):

Land Value

Rate in $

Amount

Base Amount

Total

$1,000,000

0.00069600

$696.00

$973.00

 $1,669.00

What is a base amount?

  • A base amount is a fixed amount that is applicable to every property in the rate category
  • Base amounts help smooth out large increases in Land Values by reducing the amount of rate income calculated solely on property land values.

 

Residential rates

  • Council gets 50% of its overall residential rates income from the Base Amount and 50% from the Residential (rate-in-the-dollar) amount.
  • Your residential rates notice also contains charges for:
    • Domestic waste – this is to pay for your bin service. Please check/confirm you are being charged for the right size bin and the correct number of bins (note ‘1’ in the Rateable Value or Number column indicates one service, which includes a red, yellow and green bin. If you have more than one red bin, this number will reflect that.)
    • Residential Stormwater – this is a fixed $25 charge to all residential ratepayers and $12.50 to residential strata units, helping us to fund our municipality’s extensive stormwater management network.

Hardship

Council recognises that due to exceptional circumstances, ratepayers may at times encounter difficulty paying their annual rates and charges. Council has a Debt Recovery and Hardship Assistance Policy(, 0B) that provides a framework for providing relief to any ratepayers who are suffering genuine financial hardship. 

Apply for hardship relief.

Rates Myths

Myth 1 - Kiama Council’s rates are the highest in the state

Not true.

Compared to other local Councils, Kiama’s average residential rates are in the same band as Shellharbour, Wingecarribee, Wollongong and Newcastle https://www.yourcouncil.nsw.gov.au/compare-councils/.

Myth 2 - An increase in land values means my rates will increase

Not necessarily true.

After a revaluation, such as the recent one by the NSW Value General dated 1 July 2022, the distribution (or spread) of rates changes for each ratepayer. Because of this redistribution, your rates may increase, decrease or stay the same. 

Myth 3 - The increase in land value means Kiama Council gets more money

Not true.

Council does not receive any more money due to land values going up, we can only increase our rates by the amount of the rate peg set by NSW Government’s IPART.

Myth 4 - Land values have risen so rates will increase in the same way

Not true.

Only your residential (rate-in-the-dollar) amount is affected by the recent valuation. The base amount is the same for every residential ratepayer across our municipality. And Council can only increase rates according to IPART's instruction.

Myth 5 - We pay so much in rates, Council must be making a huge profit

Not true.

Kiama Council’s rates income for 2025-26 equates to $30.3 million (this includes domestic waste).

Our operating expenses for 2025-26 are budgeted to be $62.9 million and income is budgeted to be $59.5 million (this includes the $30.3M of rates income mentioned above.

As at May 2025 (per the investment report) our reserves are:

  • Externally restricted (can only be spent on the purpose the funds have been provided for) $32.6M Investment Report
  • Internally restricted (set aside by Council to cover future expenses) $3.6M Investment Report.

Myth 6 - The shortfall can be made up by applying for grants

Not true.

Grants take a lot of resources to apply for, work through and ensure the milestone reports and acquittals are all done correctly. Many grants require in-kind support or matched funding and still use Council resources (project managers, communications support, labour). Although we are genuinely grateful for all our grants and have achieved wonderful outcomes via grant-funded projects, they are not a panacea for our financial and resourcing challenges.  

 

 

Rates FAQs

How much income will Kiama Council get from rates in FY25-26?

$22,718,727

What's the breakdown of residential, farmland and business ratepayers in Kiama Municipality?

Residential $20,148,765

Farmland $840,434

Business $1,729,528

What is the rates income spent on?

Rates are used to provide essential infrastructure and services to residents and ratepayers of our municipality such as parks & gardens, sports fields, roads, bridges, footpaths, swimming pools, beach safety and libraries.

What if I can’t afford the rate rise?

If you’re experiencing financial hardship and struggling to pay your rates, please get in touch with Kiama Council prior to when your rates fall due. There are a range of options in place to assist you. 

Find out more

I’m a pensioner, can I get a discount?

Find out if you may be eligible for a pensioner rebate on your rates here https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/Your-rates/Apply-for-a-pensioner-rebate

 

How do I pay my rates?

You can pay your rates online, via phone, in person, via mail, set up a direct debit or use BPay.

https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/Your-rates/Pay-your-rates

Can I get my rates notice via email?

Absolutely, click this link to find out more. 

https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/Your-rates/Rates-notice-via-email

Valuation objections and/or appeals

Councils do not determine the land value of your property. Land is valued by the NSW Valuer General. These valuations are conducted for Kiama Municipal Council every three (3) years and you will receive a valuation notice from them after it is completed.

If you do not agree with the land value, you have sixty (60) days from the date of assessment to object to the Valuer General. Refer to the Valuer Generals website for more on land values and the objection process.

All objections and/or appeals regarding the valuation of land must be directed to the Valuer General’s Office. Council cannot alter a valuation without instruction from the Valuer General.

If you lodge an objection or have an objection pending, you must still pay your rates while your objection is being considered.

Once the objection is determined and Council is advised of the amended land value, the rates will be adjusted, and the ratepayer advised.

For further information go to the Valuer General website.

 

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