Her fence says ‘rates too high’ in bold black letters. 

She said she was shocked at how much rates had grown in the four years she has lived on the corner of Ripon Street and Webster Street. 

“(My second rates bill) I went down to council because it had gone up so much, I thought it must have been a mistake,” she said. 

She said her most recent rates bill was $5200. 

Council’s approach to rate collection has come under increased scrutiny in recent months after the state government capped rate rises at 2.5 per cent annually. 

Long term budget planning by council had depended on a 5.5 per cent increase this financial year. 

Mayor Des Hudson said areas like Lake Wendouree were more likely to see rate increases because of strong property values. 

“With revaluations every two years, there will an increase in...rate notices. In some areas there might be a decrease, with values going down,” he said. 

“(Ms Buckley) has chosen to live in an area where property values do hold their price or do increase at a fairly significant rate.” 

Ms Buckley said she was shocked to find out this week a friend who lived in Hawthorn was paying $2200 annually to the City of Boroondara. 

The City of Boroondara estimates someone with a house worth $1.8 million would pay just over $3000 in rates in 2016-17. 

Cr Hudson said it was hard to compare rates between councils as some would have more coming in through commercial rates and was able to charge residents less, or vice versa. 

Ms Buckley said she thought the council had forgotten it was in regional Victoria and rates “had gotten out of hand”. 

One recourse Ballarat people have in a revaluation year is to challenge the estimated value of their house, Cr Hudson said. 

Council will find out if their 1.7 per cent rate cap variation application to the Essential Services Commission is successful next week.