Hamilton's rating system to remain unchanged

Following extensive consultation and a record number of submissions, Council has decided to keep Hamilton’s existing land value based rating system, rather than move to a capital value based system.

Council made the decision at last week’s 10-Year Plan meetings. This follows a comprehensive 6 week consultation which saw 2,763 submissions made, and 106 submitters speaking to their submission during hearings in November. The majority of submissions opposed any change to a new rating system.

The current land value rating system with its current variable (differential) rates will stay as it is, and the proposal to introduce targeted rates for water and rates based on a capital value basis will not be introduced at this time.

Also agreed at the meeting was a slightly lower level of rates for central city businesses, relative to other commercial properties in the city. This 95% rate differential relative to the rates of other inner city commercial properties will be consulted on with the public in March 2012 as part of consultation connected to the city’s draft 10-Year Plan.