Flexible payment options available to ratepayers
September 3, 2020
Colac Otway Shire Council is urging ratepayers who are impacted by the COVID19 situation to make contact with Council to arrange more frequent, manageable payments.
Colac Otway Shire Corporate Services Manager Errol Lawrence said everyone’s situation was different, and while some ratepayers were not financially impacted by the pandemic, Council wanted to ensure that anyone who was struggling was aware that flexible payment arrangements were available.
“Council provides more than 40 services across the shire from the maintenance of more than 1600 kilometres of roads, more than 100 playgrounds, sporting grounds and recreational spaces, to the provision of libraries, maternal and child health services, aged care and waste services,” Mr Lawrence said.
“This year, we are also providing essential COVID support to vulnerable residents, businesses and the wider community.
“Council cannot operate and provide those services without our community’s rates and charges, which is why it’s important that people pay their rates.
“We understand times are tough for our community, particularly our local businesses, and Colac Otway is not charging interest on rates in arrears through to December 31, 2020.
“However we encourage ratepayers to either take up the option to pay by quarterly instalment, or call our Rates Team and arrange weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments. Payment by these options also extends the payment due date to 31 May 2021,” he said.
“Your rates aren’t accruing interest at the moment, but a flexible payment arrangement could help avoid further financial stress next year.”
Colac Otway Shire 2020-21 rates notices have been issued, and will already have arrived via email or be arriving in letter boxes soon.
Rather than waiting for a paper copy to arrive and to help reduce costs and impact on the environment, ratepayers can request to receive future rates notices by email, by requesting an e-notice via the Shire Website.
The first rates instalment is due on September 30, 2020, or paid in full by February 28, 2021.
As with previous years, the notice allows two months for ratepayers to object to the valuation of their property or any of the details on the notice, other than the amount to be paid.
More information is available on the Shire Website. or by calling (03) 5232 9400.
Council Enquiries
(03) 5232 9400