Maryborough Rates.
Sue Brooks August 10th, 2008
Last week Councillors worked together with Council staff, to try and address the impact of an annual rate notice to Maryborough ratepayers. I hope that the changes outlined below do make it easier for these ratepayers. I think it is an excellent compromise in what is a very difficult transition period for all of us.
FCRC Media Release
SUBJECT: Rates respite for Maryborough residents
The Fraser Coast Regional Council has offered Maryborough ratepayers some breathing space with rates payments during this transitional year of amalgamating rating systems.
The 2008/09 Regional Council Budget, which was adopted on 16 July 2008, said all rates notices would be issued annually in line with the practices of three of the four former Councils (Hervey Bay, Tiaro and Woocoo). All ratepayers would have the option to pay upfront and receive a 10% discount if the entire amount was received within 45 day of the rates notice being issued.
While that meant no change for ratepayers in Hervey Bay, Woocoo and Tiaro, it was a change for Maryborough ratepayers in that under the previous system they were able to pay their rates in two instalments and still receive the discount.
Maryborough ratepayers paid the last instalment of their 2007/08 rates in February this year.
The Council has since decided that paying the total amount up front could prove difficult for some Maryborough ratepayers who feel they were not given enough time to budget for the single payment.
In order to ease Maryborough residents into the new system, they have been given the option to pay in three instalments for this rates year only. Maryborough ratepayers can pay the first half (50%) of their total rates payment before the 45 day period ends and receive a 10% discount on that amount. They will then have to pay the remaining half in two further (2 x 25%) equal payments. No discount will apply to the second and third payments.
All residents from Woocoo, Tiaro and Hervey Bay can choose to pay their rates in four equal instalments over the 12-month period but in doing so will not qualify for discount on any of the four instalments.
Corporate Governance Committee Chair Cr Belinda McNeven said the Council decided to allow this transitional arrangement because it recognised that Maryborough residents had already made a rates payment this calendar year. Ends
- Council related issues
- Comments(2)
Sue,
The ratepayers who have “already made a rates payment this calendar year”, have only just paid for last year!! All property owners know they have to pay rates, you budget for it. The council (HBCC) and now the (FCRC), both brought in policies (tip fees and rates) and within weeks changed their minds. Not a good look from experienced councillors with “safe hands”.
Sue, I suggest you remind your mates of the old proverb
” measure twice and cut once”, when people keep backtracking it shows a lack of confidence.
Sadman
Thanks sadman but I prefer to call it trying our very best to be fair and not place people under undue hardship. I don’t think it is unreasonable for a Council to react to public concerns and alter decisions accordingly. Maryborough ratepayers on fixed incomes are known to budget ahead and were expecting to pay their rates as per usual which was half their annual rates. Last year HBCC also had a rethink on green waste charges and changed them.
I think that an ability to respond to community needs is the sign of a mature and responsible Council. In this instance I think the outcome is the very best that we can do under the challenging circumstances of bringing four Councils rates processes into one.
In my opinion no matter what Council decided, implementing new rates and fees and charges in this new amalgamated climate and under such a tight timeframe, was always going to be a case of not pleasing everyone all of the time.