About our rating types and how they are levied

If you’re a Selwyn ratepayer, you’re one of around 28,000 property owners who contribute through

their rates to funding the huge range of activities, services and facilities that the Council provides for your community.

Your rates contribution is made up of a combination of general rate and targeted rates. Other sources of funding for Council activities include fees and charges, commercial investment returns, development contributions, subsidies and grants.

General rate

The general rate funds a wide range of Council services and facilities that benefit the whole district. This rate is levied on all rateable properties, on the basis of the Capital Value on the property. It provides the net funding for all Council operations which are not financed by targeted or special rates.

general rate

Uniform Annual General Charge

The general rate also includes a Uniform Annual General Charge component, which is not related to property value. It is a fixed charge which helps to moderates the extremes in rates which would apply if the rating system was based solely on property values.

Targeted rates and charges

Targeted rates are used where a Council service or facility provides a benefit to a particular group of ratepayers or location. These rates and charges are levied on properties within the designated areas to recover the costs of providing and maintaining functions specific to those properties.

Targeted rates can be district-wide (eg Canterbury Museum) or localised (eg Community Board).

Services for which targeted rates can be levied include:

  • Refuse collection
  • Libraries
  • Community centres
  • Recreation reserves
  • Water supplies
  • Water races
  • Sewerage
  • Stormwater
  • Land drainage/ecological enhancement
  • Swimming pools
  • Community Board
  • Canterbury Museum

Rates for these purposes can be based on capital values, property areas, land classification, or fixed charges per rateable property.

In some instances, user charges based on metered water use are also used, where a property is situated within an area specific for the purpose and is not connected to either a reticulated water supply or sewerage system. In these cases half of the full water charge is made and user charges are additional.

targeted rates

Special Rates

These rates are levied in respect of loan charges.