The council officially "welcomed" the residents of Tingha to the shire after April's Economic & Sustainability Committee meeting. It accepted the committee's resolution for properties within the Tingha Boundary Adjustment area to be transitioned into council's existing rate structure over three years, in accordance with the Local Government Act, 1993.

A new residential rating sub-category called Tingha - Residential was created with charges for water, sewerage and waste management services.

Annual residential rates could cost about $1400. That estimate may be expected to rise because council has applied to IPART for its maximum permissible rate increase of 7.25 per cent for 2019/20

Inverell Mayor Paul Harmon said Armidale Regional Council had a totally different rating structure to Inverell Shire Council.

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"Our staff did a lot of work looking at the rate impact for those residents who come across. Like everything, there are going to be some winners and there are going to be some losers," Cr Harmon said.

"We are mindful of that transition. So, we've adopted the transition over three years to get everybody back on the same rating level.

"Residents should see a drop in the rates they need to pay, but there are about half a dozen farming properties that will have a significant increase in their rates due to the size of those parcels of land. But they are not small, family businesses. Of course, we are conscious of it being this time of the year and also with this type of season."

Cr Harmon said some Tingha residents would receive reduced rate bills due to lower water and sewage charges.

"And some of the businesses in Tingha, and those businesses operating outside the village, will get a rate reduction as well. Look, it's not big numbers, but it's as I said, there's going to be some winners and there's going to be some losers," Cr Harmon said.