Dear Editor
I AM writing to bring attention to a concerning issue regarding property rates in the Swan Hill area.
Recently, I received my rates notice and was alarmed to find that my rates had risen by a staggering 55 per cent.
This increase is particularly troubling given that I had been informed by the Swan Hill Council that rates would be capped at 2.75 per cent.
Upon further investigation, I learned that the valuers responsible for assessing properties in our area are not local.
This raises significant questions about their understanding of the local market and how they arrive at their valuations, especially when property values in the region have only risen by about 14 per cent.
The discrepancy between the capped rate increase and the valuation results warrants further scrutiny and discussion.
Santo Leonardi
