City seeks feedback on proposed 2026/2027 differential rates

The City of Wanneroo is seeking community feedback on its proposed 2026/2027 Differential Rates, which supports the delivery of essential services and infrastructure in the face of rising costs and rapid population growth.

Council is proposing an average rate increase of less than $2 per week for the typical residential household, equating to an overall average increase of 6 per cent.

Wanneroo Mayor Linda Aitken said the proposed differential rates are designed to reflect the real and rising cost of maintaining services our community relies on every day.

“Just as household expenses like groceries and electricity have risen, so too have the costs of running a City,” she said.

As one of WA’s fastest-growing regions, with a population surpass 438,000 by 2046, she said demand on services continues to rise.

“Rates help fund the everyday services people rely on, including maintaining roads, collecting waste, caring for parks and delivering community safety and local facilities.

“We are tightening our belt where we can and are working hard to strike the right balance between caring for our City and maintaining affordability for ratepayers.”

Rates are only one part of how the City is funded, alongside grants, fees and charges and other income sources. Balancing affordability with service delivery and long-term planning requires careful decisions to ensure financial sustainability over the longer term.

So, what are differential rates?

Differential rates mean different types of properties are charged different rates, rather than a single flat rate for everyone. The City takes this approach to help ensure a more balanced and fair distribution of costs across residential, commercial/industrial and rural land uses.

This year is also a revaluation year for all WA Local Governments. Every three years, Landgate revalues all properties in the City for rating and taxing purposes under the Valuation Land Act 1978.

Property valuations will be based on valuations as of 1 July 2024. These are determined differently depending on the type of land:

• Gross Rental Value (GRV) for improved properties reflects the estimated annual rental income the property could generate if leased.
• GRV for vacant land is calculated as 3 per cent of the market value of the land.
• Unimproved Value (UV) reflects the market value of the land regardless of any buildings or improvements.

Rates are calculated using property value and a “rate in the dollar”. Minimum rates are also applied, being the lowest amount payable regardless of valuation.

The City adjusts the rate in the dollar to an equivalent, before applying any overall percentage increase. For example, the Residential Improved rate in the dollar was decreased from 7.0902 cents in 2025/26 to a proposed 5.1390 cents for 2026/27, being a reduction of 1.9512 cents. This means the percentage increase is not simply applied to the previous rate.

Mayor Aitken said Council are proposing the City’s lowest recorded rate in the dollar next year, coinciding with one of the highest increases in property valuations in recent times.

“The proposed average increase is 6 per cent, but individual outcomes will vary depending on values in comparison to other properties,” she said.

“Some ratepayers may see a decrease, others little or no change, some an increase around 6 per cent, and others may experience increases above this level.”

The City’s 2026/2027 proposed differential rates are outlined below:

Rate category	Minimum rate GRV	GRV rate in dollar	Minimum rate UV	UV rate in dollar
Residential Improved With lesser minimum for Strata Titled Caravan Parks	$1,206   $176	5.1390	$1,285   –	0.2749
Residential Vacant	$875	10.2779	$1,072	0.4881
Commercial / Industrial Improved	$1,727	7.7255	$1,795	0.2617
Commercial / Industrial Vacant	$1,747	7.3550	$1,795	0.2874
Rural & Mining Improved	–	–	$1,278	0.2920
Rural & Mining Vacant	–	–	$1,208	0.3745

To read the full public notice, visit: https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/publicnotices

To provide public comment, visit: https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/xfp/form/1832

Comments must be received before 5pm on Thursday, 25 June 2026.

The 2026/27 budget is expected to go to a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 for consideration/adoption.