Having trouble paying your rates?

Do you need some extra time to pay your East Gippsland Shire Council rates? 

If so, ratepayers are encouraged to contact council’s Customer Service Centres and ask to speak with customer service centre staff.

For ratepayers who choose to pay their rates in one amount, rates were due on February 15, 2019, and unpaid rates will now start accruing interest.

Mayor Cr Natalie O’Connell said that for ratepayers who may not have been able to pay their annual rates when they fell due it was important to contact council and have a discussion.

“There are several ways we may be able to assist, including an arrangement to pay that is tailored to your situation,” Cr O’Connell said.

Although interest is charged on all overdue amounts, if ratepayers enter into and honour an arrangement to pay, the risk of additional costs being incurred because action is undertaken to recover the debt is eliminated.   

“Council understands that ratepayers may experience periods of financial hardship due to circumstances beyond their control. We know that this can happen for all kinds of reasons, just one of which is the current drought,” Cr O’Connell said.

“Our officers are committed to working with ratepayers to put a plan in place for paying any overdue amounts. It could be an arrangement that spreads rates payments more evenly across a period of time, or if things are really tough, it might be an interest free period that allows the rates to be paid over time without extra costs being incurred.”

Council has customer service centres in Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Mallacoota, Omeo, Orbost and Paynesville or can be contacted by telephone on (03) 5153 9500.