The City of Playford have been asked to rethink the proposed changes to their rating policies by local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo. Mr Piccolo has written to Mayor Glenn Docherty in response to representations he received from angry ratepayers in the City of Playford Council area.It has been reported that more than 500 people attended a Playford Council meeting last Tuesday evening to protest the Council’s proposed rating policy changes.The proposed changes could see some Market gardeners paying double to more than three times their current rate, while homeowners in the new Playford Alive area will also be heavily hit.Mr Piccolo said that such a massive increase in rates would be too difficult for some landowners to absorb into their businesses in one year. “I have received numerous representations from ratepayers regarding the proposals the Council is considering to adopt,” Mr Piccolo said.As a result of the representations, Mr Piccolo has written to the Mayor of the City of Playford, Glenn Docherty. Quoting from Mr Piccolo’s letter he outlined his concerns about the proposed policy changes.“PriMary producers will potentially be hit the hardest by the policy proposal,” Mr Piccolo said.“I can understand that Council is keen to promote economic activity by reducing rates on ‘commercial’ properties, but I am at a loss to understand why ‘priMary producers’ are not treated as small businesses. “PriMary Production properties currently attract a lower rate, however, the enormous increase proposed by Option 1 would make it very difficult for some priMary producers to absorb, and this can only result in lower employment in this sector. “PriMary Producers in the Munno Para West/Downs area and Angle Vale will be hit by these increases.“In my correspondence to Mayor Docherty, I noted that while a number of residential properties will receive some relatively minor rate relief, a number of residents will experience quite significant rate increases.“Properties with a capital value of more than about $250,000 will incur rate increases, in addition to any general rate increases.“These rate increases will certainly have a negative financial impact on residents in the Munno Para, Munno Para West and Munno Para Downs areas.“Based on my own experience, I would respectfully recommend to your Council that it engage with the community further and explore a broader range of rating policy models that may be more acceptable to a majority of ratepayers.“While this may result in a delay in any policy implementation, it may be a small price to pay compared to the ongoing criticism Council is likely to receive from a community that believes the ‘consultation’ process has been tokenistic. “If Council is not of the mind to delay the implementation of a new rating policy, it would be prudent to phase them in over a period of time, to enable priMary producers and residents to adjust and absorb the increases,” he said.View my letter here.