Understanding Your Rates

What are rates?

Local government rates are a contribution each property owner makes towards the cost of providing facilities and services in their local community.

Anyone owning residential, rural, vacant, industrial or commercial property in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a ratepayer. Some government bodies, educational and registered charitable organisations are exempt from paying rates.

Description of image

How your rates are calculated

The rates calculation starts with determining the budget we need set to deliver our local services. This budget amount is then divided among ratepayers, although not everyone pays the same amount.

Rates are calculated by multiplying a property’s valuation by the differential rate in the dollar set by Council. This is subject to an annual minimum rate which is set each year by Council. 

Your valuation is determined by the Valuer General at Landgate, a separate organisation. The Valuer General assigns non-rural properties a Gross Rental Value (GRV)  and rural properties an Unimproved Value (UV).

The Gross Rental Value, or GRV, represents the gross annual rental that a property might reasonably be expected to earn annually if it were rented, including rates, taxes, insurance and other outgoings. For non-residential properties, GST is also included.

Your Gross Rental Value can be found on your rates notice. You can appeal your Gross Rental Valuation within 60 days from the date of issue of your Annual Rate Notice by completing an objection form on the Landgate website.

Unimproved Value, or UV, is the value of land only. It does not include the value of your home, other structures or improvements. For land within the metropolitan area, the UV does include merged improvements such as drainage, levelling and filling.

Visit our FAQs page for more information on Gross Rental Value and Unimproved Value.

Understanding your rates notice

Download example rates notice here

Other charges on your rates notice

Waste Services Charges

The rates notice will include Waste Service Charges for the year ending 30 June 2026. For most residential ratepayers, the standard Waste Service charge amounts to $440. This charge encompasses various services, including weekly rubbish collection, fortnightly recycling collection, and year-round access to the Yarri Road Refuse Facility services.

Sewerage Utility Fee

The City owns and operates its own sewerage infrastructure, which allows us to manage wastewater services independently of state utilities. Under Section 106(8) of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911, local governments with their own sewerage systems are permitted to charge a utility fee in place of a traditional sewerage rate.

What Is the Utility Fee?

The utility fee is a charge applied to properties connected to the City’s sewerage network. It reflects the cost of maintaining and operating the system and is calculated based on the number and type of sanitary fixtures on the property, such as:

  • Pedestals (toilets)
  • Urinals
  • Slophoppers (cleaners sink)

This fee ensures that all users contribute fairly to the upkeep of the infrastructure and the safe management of wastewater.

Who Pays the Fee?

All properties connected to the City’s sewerage network are subject to the utility fee, regardless of whether they are exempt from general council rates. This includes:

  • Residential homes
  • Commercial premises
  • Community facilities

The authority to charge this fee is provided byPart IV, Division 4, Section 106(8) of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911. This provision remains current and applicable as of the latest legislative updates.

If you have questions about how the utility fee is calculated or applied to your property, please ring our Rates Team on (08) 9021 9654 or email rates@ckb.wa.gov.au.

Emergency Services Levy

The Emergency Services Levey (ESL) is a compulsory charge for all property owners, issued by the government. The ESL funds WA’s fire and emergency services such as fire stations, volunteer fire brigades, and State Emergency Services (SES) units.

Emergency Services Levy Information