Politics
Silom Rates Rebalancing Measure Raises Levies on Central Commercial Properties
Central business owners face increased annual payments under the new policy while residential areas outside the core receive additional maintenance funding.
How we reported this
The Silom City Council approved the Rates Rebalancing Measure at its July 7 meeting. The policy lifts commercial property rates in the central business district by 8 to 15 percent based on floor area while holding residential rates steady across the municipality. Revenue from the adjustment will go to drainage and road work in the eastern and western residential wards.
The measure follows the 2025 Silom financial report, which recorded a 7.2 million unit shortfall in routine infrastructure maintenance. Council documents state that existing rates covered only 40 percent of identified needs for pavement repairs and flood mitigation. The new levy targets the gap without altering the overall rates base.
Effects on central district businesses
Shops and offices along Silom Road and nearby lanes will pay an average extra 45,000 units each year. A 200 square meter retail premises, for instance, faces an added 12,000 unit bill. Local advocates note that some operators may adjust prices or postpone hiring to cover the increase.
Property records show more than 1,800 commercial assessments fall inside the affected central zone. The legislation states that owners may request a valuation review before the October 1 start date.
Allocation to outer residential wards
Sixty percent of the expected 2.5 million units in new revenue will fund projects in the Phra and Bang wards. Those areas recorded repeated flooding last wet season, according to council maintenance logs. Households there will see scheduled drainage clearing and pavement replacement without a rates rise.
The policy takes effect October 1. Applications for reassessment close September 15 at the council valuation office.