COVID-19 rates freeze over as Northern Tasmanian councils set for rate rises

Last year, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, all councils in Northern Tasmania opted to freeze their rates to help out ratepayers but this year many will adopt rate increases.

The most notable of those increases is Dorset Council which is set to consider a 4.9 per cent increase of the general rate.

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"Even though our increase is one of the higher ones within the nine councils, we would still be the cheapest place in the north to own a house from a rates point of view," Dorset mayor Greg Howard said.

The need to recoup some funds after the financial impediment of COVID-19 last financial year is being felt at City of Launceston Council.

Recently, Launceston voted to adopt a 3.75 per cent increase generally and cited the rate freeze last year as a reason for the rise.

Launceston are not alone in that reasoning, which has also been cited by Flinders Island and West Tamar who adopted a 5 per cent and 3.65 per cent increase respectively.

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Break O'Day will consider a 3 per cent increase on the general rate for residential, commercial and primary production properties.

On June 28, Northern Midlands will consider a 3.95 per cent while Break O'Day will consider a 3 per cent increase.

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George Town Council will have a rate increase on the rarely used AAR systemn which George Town mayor Greg Kieser said the system suited the area.

"From our point of view the disruption of moving to a new system, given our financial systems at this point in time, doesn't stack up," he said.

Glamorgan Spring Bay Council's new rate system will see 1404 properties get a rate decrease, 1088 properties would see a 0-$200 increase and 1580 would see a $200+ increase in their rates.

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