The Glen Innes Severn Council is owed over $800 thousand in overdue rates which represents nearly eight percent of all annual rates and charges that are collectable.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Annual rates and charges the council levied for the 2015/16 financial year totalled $10,762,228.27.
Glen Innes Severn Council General manager Hein Basson said there are currently 168 ratepayers who have entered into arrangements for the payment of their accounts.
“The collection of rates and water charges results in improved cash flow for Council which does impact the community, so for this reason Council is always willing to negotiate payment terms with outstanding debtors,” he said.
“All payment arrangements are consistent with Council’s current Debt Recovery Policy and overdue annual rates and charges are being maintained at an acceptable level through the follow-up of overdue accounts.”
Local Government New South Wales spokeswoman Toni Allan said the rates owed to Glen Innes Severn Council are well below the rural council benchmark.
“The figure owed is well under the rural council’s benchmark of 10 percent, and significantly less than the 2013/14 NSW rural council average of 10.28 percent,” she said.
“Councils across NSW remain focused on continuous financial improvements in the best interests of their residents and ratepayers, despite the ongoing challenges of cost-shifting from State and Federal governments.
“Given Glen Innes Severn Council is outperforming the rural council benchmark it appears that hard work undertaken by Council’s elected and professional staff is certainly paying off.”
Director of the University of New England Centre for Local Government Professor Brian Dollery said it is a good idea for local governments to address issues.
The Glen Innes council is operating in surplus and investing in infrastructure, so council addressing this problem is a good thing.”
