Rates are Council’s main source of income for providing and maintaining essential services for residents throughout the District. Our rating system is designed to provide for both District-wide and localised activities.  Localised activities are typically defined by an area of benefit.  This generally includes those properties that could benefit from the services being provided.  

General Rate
The District Rate is based on capital value and is used to cover costs associated with the day-to-day running of Council operations.

Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC)
For every rateable property, owners are required to pay a UAGC - for 2011/2012 this is $175.  This money is used for the same purposes as District Rates.

District Library Charge
Every property owner pays this charge which is used to fund library services throughout the District.

Roading
Every property owner pays a Roading Rate and a Roading Charge. Rural property owners are also required to pay a Rural Works Charge which is used to fund roading projects in rural areas.

Environmental Protection Charge
This is a fixed charge per property.  The income is used to pay for Council initiatives to protect the environment and community health, including a proportion of wastewater and solid waste costs and environmental planning.  

Depending on where your property is situated you may also be required to pay one or more of the following charges:

Community Board Rate
You are required to pay this rate if your property is located in a Community Board area. It is a fixed charge on each rating unit within that Community Board area. 

Community Hall
If you live in the vicinity of a community hall this is the amount you pay to cover ongoing operating and maintenance costs. 

Focus Te Puke 
All separately rateable properties in the Te Puke and Maketu wards pay this charge (commercially-zoned properties in the Te Puke Community Board area are required to pay an additional rate) which is used to fund the promotion of Te Puke.

Gibraltar Water Scheme
This charge will be paid by all properties receiving water from this scheme as identified by the scheme's directors. 

Katikati Promotion
All separately rateable properties in the Katikati Ward pay this charge (commercially-zoned properties in the Katikati Community Board area are required to pay an additional rate) which is used to fund the promotion of Katikati. 

Katikati Resource Centre Charge 
Properties in the Katikati and Waihi Beach wards are required to pay this charge to fund the operation of this community facility. 

Omokoroa Greenwaste
This is a fixed charge per property in the Omokoroa Community Board area to fund the greenwaste disposal facility.

Recreation
If your property is located in Katikati, Te Puke or Maketu ward you are required to pay this charge to cover costs of swimming pools in your area. 
 
Resort Pacifica Capital Sewerage Charge
Every separate rateable property within Resort Pacifica is required to pay this charge to enable connection to Council’s sewerage reticulation system.

Solid Waste
This is a fixed charge per property based on location. It covers costs for solid waste facilities across the District, including transfer stations and ongoing remedial work at closed refuse tip sites.

Stormwater 
You are required to pay a stormwater charge if your property is situated in a defined stormwater catchment.

Subdivision Charge
This is a fixed charge on those properties in the process of being subdivided at 30 June each year. For information on financial contribution associated with subdivision, please refer to fees and charges information available on Council’s website or at any one of Council’s offices.

Talisman Drive Development Charge
Property owners in Katikati Ward are required to pay this charge to cover works associated with the development of Talisman Drive.

Te Puna Library 
All properties in the Te Puna school catchment area are required to pay this charge which contributes to operating costs of the Te Puna library.

Waihi Beach Coastal Protection Charge
Depending on the location of your property in the Waihi Beach Ward you will be required to pay the following charges:

• beach front behind the rock revetment in the defined area of benefit: $1,376.00
• in the defined area of benefit for dune work: $648.00
• in the defined area of benefit for dune works and Three Mile Creek works: $641.00
• beyond the defined areas of benefit: $10.

For more information on these charges please refer to the Projects area of Council's website www.westernbay.govt.nz/Major-Projects/

Waihi Land Drainage
Properties in the Little Waihi area which benefit from drainage works pay this charge. 

Water and Wastewater
If your property receives Council water and/or wastewater services or is located in an area where these services are available, you are required to pay a service/availability charge.
 
Wilson Road Upgrade
This is a charge on all properties in the Waihi Beach Ward and an additional charge on commercial properties in the Wilson Road area.