Council announces rate relief

5 April 2020

Strathbogie Shire Council has announced measures designed to assist ratepayers who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Cr Amanda McClaren said it is evident that the community had been hard-hit by the standing down of employees, job losses and mandatory closure of businesses. “Our communities have gone through drought, fires, significant storms and now are faced with unprecedented situation,” she said. “We are acutely aware of how this situation is affecting people – we have been saddened to hear about job losses, staff being stood down and businesses not being able to trade. “We want to work with our community to find solutions to see us through this situation.” The initiatives announced today include:

An extension of the due date of the fourth instalment of Council rates to 30 June 2020 (instead of 31 May 2020). No overdue/outstanding interest to be added to accounts for the period from 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020. The refund of any previously paid fees for this financial year to become a registered premise, which includes food business, hairdressers, etc. This same fee will not be charged in the 2020-21 financial year.

Cr McClaren said it was important that any ratepayer who is having difficulty with paying their rates to contact the Council early as possible to discuss assistance which can be provided through payment plans and Council’s Hardship Policy.

“It is important to us that our ratepayers and residents are assured that we are here for them during this crisis,” she said. “We want all ratepayers – whether Residential, Commercial/Business, Farming or other – to know we want to help.” Cr McClaren said any person experiencing difficulty in paying their rates should contact Council to discuss a possible payment plan or assistance in applying for help under the Hardship Policy. Cr McClaren said Strathbogie Shire Council was also strongly advocating for rate relief at Federal and State government level as part of the Hume Region Local Government Network, a group of 12 councils which represent more than 300,000 people. “We are urgently requesting that the Government considers a funding package to help Councils support their communities at this time of crisis,” she said.