Council proposes to amend its Rates Remission and Postponement Policy to better support ratepayers affected by major natural disasters. We sought feedback on the proposed changes:
Exceptional circumstances and/or financial support
To assist ratepayers experiencing financial hardship and/or are adversely impacted by a natural disaster or other calamity which directly affects their ability to pay rates. Or a situation has arisen where some event has occurred which makes the collection of rates impractical, impossible, or unreasonable. The objective supports financial affordability by providing relief from paying rates in exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances could include community organisations ceasing operation, an unintended rating situation where it's fair and reasonable to remit rates in certain situations, an unpredictable event including natural disasters, pandemic, epidemic or other calamity that affect the ratepayer’s ability to pay rates.
The proposed change to the exceptional circumstances and/or financial support remission policy changes clause 4.4.d states exceptional circumstances remissions do not cover remissions for road closures.
Properties affected by a natural calamity event (new policy)
To assist ratepayers facing extreme hardship or prolonged disruption due to a specific natural calamity that affects their ability to pay rates. This assistance applies when a property has been significantly affected by a single event—such as erosion, subsidence, submersion, or another natural disaster that impacts the use or occupation of any rating unit.
For more information
Read the Statement of Proposal for more detail about what we're proposing and the draft amended policy.
