BUSINESS rates in Orange are thousands of dollars a year higher than those of similar-sized councils, prompting the business community to question the impact this was having on the retailers' bottom line.
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According to data released for Orange City Council from the NSW Office of Local Government, average rates for businesses in Orange were $6336 annually.
However, average rates for other regional towns and cities in NSW were just $3751.
Residential rates were far closer - average rates in Orange were $1254, while the group average was $1044.
Orange Business Chamber president Ash Brown said he considered the Orange business rate high.
"The CBD requires more maintenance but that seems ridiculous," he said.
"It's passed onto the tenant, whether directly or indirectly, from the owner and they pass it on to their consumers - here we are complaining that we have a lot of vacant shops in Orange and this only adds to the problems."
If I'd been paying it for the past 10 years, I'd feel dudded.
- Councillor Kevin Duffy
Councillor Kevin Duffy has mentioned the special CBD rate several times in the chamber and was not surprised by the figure. Although the council is applying for funding to upgrade the CBD, he labelled its current condition as shabby.
"If I'd been paying it for the past 10 years, I'd feel dudded," he said.
Miss Mary Mac owner Libby Kavanagh said although the council had paid to repair awning lights recently, she did not believe the rates were value for money.
"We get a garbage collection - I haven't seen them clean the footpath once," she said.
However, Cint owner Sarah Waddell said she thought her rent was reasonable after opening six months ago.
"I came from Young and I had very high rent there," she said.
Mr Brown suggested as consumers also used footpaths and other public facilities, perhaps general rates could account for more of the cost.
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