RESIDENTS within the George Town municipality may have less than a dollar a week added to their rates payment under a new system.
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The George Town Council moved at its meeting last week to apply for an average area rate for towns within its region.
The council's new interim planning scheme will replace closed, urban and reserved residential zones with one general residential zone.
Deputy Mayor Bridget Archer was vocal in her opposition to the move to an average area rate, which would see residents at George Town and Low Head pay up to $972 in rates.
She said she was concerned payment was "heading towards a ceiling" where people would eventually be slugged with a bill of more than $1000.
"Overwhelmingly, submissions made (from residents) were not in favour of the proposal," Cr Archer said.
"If the intention is to create equity I'm not sure how this achieves it in people paying far over and above what they would in a capital rating system.
"It will continue to put the bite on people in our community who can least afford to carry it."
Cr Tim Cory suggested that receiving just 29 submissions against the proposal was a positive.
"I don't see this as a wealth tax ... (it is) as even as possible."
Cr Heather Barwick and Cr Tim Parish agreed it was a fairer system. The council moved to apply to Local Government director Philip Hoysted to implement the average area rate.