Politics
Ringwood City Council Passes 2026-27 Rates Resolution, Holding Residential Levies Steady for Households
The July 7 vote sets the general rate at the prior level for most properties, which determines the annual bill sent to Ringwood ratepayers starting next month.
How we reported this
The Ringwood City Council adopted its 2026-27 rates resolution on July 7 by a margin of 8 votes to 3. The measure fixes the residential general rate at 0.85 cents in the dollar of capital improved value, the same figure applied in the 2025-26 year.
Council documents show that service and infrastructure costs listed in the 2026-27 budget papers rose 4.2 percent from the prior period. The resolution draws on reserve funds rather than increasing the rate multiplier applied to property values recorded in the latest valuation roll.
Direct Changes to Annual Household Charges
A property valued at the local median of $385,000 will receive a rates notice of $3,272.50, unchanged from last year. The same resolution keeps the separate waste and recycling charge at $245 per household. Council records indicate 14,800 residential assessments fall under these rates.
The budget papers list total rates revenue at $28.4 million and overall council expenditure at $62 million for the coming year. The resolution shifts $1.8 million from accumulated reserves to cover the gap created by the unchanged multiplier.
Payment Schedule and Relief Options
Rates notices will be mailed from August 15, with the first of four quarterly instalments due September 30. The hardship provision in the rates policy now extends eligibility to households earning up to 120 percent of the regional median income, an increase from the previous threshold.
Staff will present a mid-year budget review at the September council meeting that will include updated collection figures and any recommended adjustments to user fees for recreation centres and libraries.