April 7, 2015
South Burnett rate notices are likely to stay quarterly … at least for the foreseeable future.
A recent combined “over-the-counter” and online survey conducted by the South Burnett Regional Council to find out what ratepayers thought about returning to half-yearly rate notices found opinions seem to be evenly divided.
Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said today the Council’s “over-the-counter” survey – where quarterly rates were the first option ratepayers were given – showed a preference for leaving things as they are.
But the online survey – where half-yearly rates were the first option – showed the opposite.
“Overall, there was a slight preference for a return to half-yearly rates, but the margin between the two was very narrow,” the Mayor said today.
“I can’t say it was overwhelmingly in favour of one or the other.”
While Council has yet to arrive at a formal decision on the matter, he believes it’s most likely quarterly notices will stay in place for the present.
“I have been advised that by the end of this year or early next year, our new financial system will allow ratepayers to manage their own rate accounts online, and this new system may provide more options in the future,” he said.
“Until then, the main improvement we’ll try to focus on is looking at making quarterly notices more regular and predictable.”
The Mayor said the approach he personally favoured was issuing future notices on the last week of July, October, January and April.
“This schedule would avoid the Christmas-New Year and Easter holiday periods.
“Hopefully this would make things easier for a lot of people when they plan their budgets.”
Some bills I receive have the option to pay monthly, quarterly, half yearly or yearly. Paying monthly is usually more expensive while annually is cheaper. Having such choices is much better than being locked into a specific period. Maybe when the new financial system is implemented we’ll have such choice.