Background
Each year, Council reviews its budget and determines how much revenue is needed to maintain essential services and infrastructure across Kalgoorlie-Boulder. As part of this, the City proposes rates for different types of properties - this is called 'differential rating.'
Differential rates allow the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to apply rates differently according to property classification, which helps to ensure a more equitable ratings system.
We’re now inviting public feedback on the proposed rates for the 2025/26 financial year.
What's proposed?
Find out more by reading the public notice and Statement of Object and Reasons document below.
Public Notice
Published on Saturday, 24 May 2025
Notice is given In accordance with section 6.36 of the Local Government Act 1995, that the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder proposes to levy differential rates for each rating category and minimum payments for the 2025/26 financial year.
The City proposes to levy the following differential rates in the dollar for each gross rental value and unimproved value rating category, along with minimum payments.
Rate Group Category | Rate in $ (cents) | Minimum Payment $ |
Gross Rental Values (GRV) | ||
GRV Residential | 5.3716 | $1,169 |
GRV Commercial / Industrial | 8.0987 | $1,169 |
GRV Accommodation | 9.6069 | $1,286 |
GRV Mining | 10.7432 | $1,286 |
Unimproved Values (UV) | ||
UV Pastoral / Other | 9.6895 | $ 364 |
UV Mining | 19.3584 | $ 455 |
Objective of Proposed Rates
The primary goal of the proposed rates in the 2025/26 Budget is to meet the net funding requirements for various programs, services, and facilities provided by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Differential General Rating
The purpose of imposing Gross Rental Value (GRV) and Unimproved Value (UV) differential ratings is to ensure a fair and equitable revenue-raising mechanism across all property categories within the City. These differential rates will be levied in accordance with Section 6.33 of the Local Government Act 1995.
Section 6.33 permits local governments to charge different rates based on property characteristics and usage, including:
- The zoning purpose of the land, irrespective of its status under a planning scheme,
- The actual use or purpose as determined by the local government,
- Whether the land is vacant,
- Any other prescribed characteristics or combinations thereof.
Statement of Objects and Reasons
The Statement of Objects and Reasons document outlines the rationale for implementing differential general rates and minimum payments. It is available for viewing via this link: Statement of Objects & Reasons 25-26
Below are the summarised objects and reasons for each GRV and UV differential rating category:
- GRV Residential
- GRV Commercial / Industrial
- GRV Accommodation
- GRV Mining
- UV Pastoral / Other
- UV Mining
The rate in the dollar and minimum payment has been set to reflect the level of revenue required for the City to function effectively. This revenue is necessary to provide a wide array of services (like public safety, education, and waste management), programs, and maintain
the infrastructure (such as roads, parks, and public buildings) that are essential for the community.
The rate in the dollar and minimum payment has been set to reflect the costs associated with the provision and maintenance and renewal of infrastructure used by commercial or industrial businesses including road structure, lighting and drainage, car parking, landscaping and higher costs in relation to infrastructure and regulatory services.
The rate in the dollar rate and the minimum payment has been set to guarantee a fair distribution of rates among both residents and non-resident workers, many of whom spend much of the year in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Large accommodation facilities, including caravan parks and extensive accommodation properties, can have a significant impact on the City’s services and assets.
The rate in the dollar rate and the minimum payment has been established to mirror the effects that resource sector activities (i.e. heavy transport, higher traffic volumes) have on the City’s infrastructure and the necessary maintenance programs. It is a way to ensure that those who benefit from using the infrastructure more intensively also contribute fairly to its upkeep.
The rate in the dollar and minimum payment has been set to ensure that the revenue generated from pastoral and rural properties is sufficient to support the services and infrastructure they use.
The rate in the dollar and minimum payment has been set to is to reflect the revenue required to manage the impact on the City by mining and resource sectors.
The increased use of urban and rural infrastructure due to heavier vehicles and more traffic from resource sector activities justifies the significant investment the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder commits to road and drainage systems. This investment supports the remote mining operations that rely on rural roads across the district, accounting for the additional maintenance, effects, and regularity needed to maintain a basic standard of serviceability that properties in this category can benefit from.
Submissions
Electors and ratepayers of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder are invited to submit their comments on the proposed differential rates in the dollar and minimum payments in writing by 4.30pm, Tuesday 17 June 2025. Submissions should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, PO Box 2042, Boulder WA 6432 or email mailbag@ckb.wa.gov.au, with “Differential Rates” in the subject line.
Written submissions received after 17 June 2025 will not be considered.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the City’s Rates Department on (08) 9021 9654 or email rates@ckb.wa.gov.au.
The figures shown in the table above (i.e. rates in the dollar and minimum payments) may change as part of Council’s deliberations after consideration of any submissions received.
ANDREW BRIEN
Chief Executive Officer
Statement of Objects and Reasons
Before providing comments electors and ratepayers are asked to read the Statement of Objects and Reasons for implementing differential general rates and minimum payments.
How to make a submission
Electors and ratepayers of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder are invited to submit their comments on the proposed differential rates in the dollar and minimum payments in writing by 4.30pm, Tuesday 17 June 2025. Submissions should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and can be made by:
Email: mailbag@ckb.wa.gov.au (with 'Differential Rates' in the subject line).
Posted Mail: PO Box 2042, Boulder WA 6432 or email
The Statement of Objects and Reasons document is also available in hard copy at the City's Administration Building, 577 Hannan St. Kalgoorlie.
Submissions due
Written submissions received after 4.30pm, Tuesday 17 June 2025 will not be considered.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the City’s Rates Team on (08) 9021 9654.