February 21, 2018
The South Burnett Regional Council is preparing to put 74 properties which have more than three years of outstanding rates out to auction.
Finance portfolio chair Cr Ros Heit told Wednesday’s Council meeting 74 landowners have until February 28 to either pay their outstanding rates bills in full or come to a suitable repayment arrangement with Council.
If they fail to respond by month’s end, their property will be included in a Sale Of Land report presented at next month’s meeting.
They will then go under the auctioneer’s hammer under the provisions of the Local Government Act, which requires councils to sell land to recover rates that are three or more years in arrears.
“I would urge anyone having difficulty to contact Council and make an arrangement,” Cr Heit said.
“No one in Council enjoys this process.”
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Cr Heit also reported that Council’s new debt collectors Recoveries and Reconstruction (R&R) issued 208 Statements Of Claim (ie summonses) through the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on January 19.
The summonses will be served on landowners who owe less than three years of overdue rates.
Landowners must respond by paying in full or making an arrangement to pay within 28 days of being served.
Failing to do this will result in a default judgment being sought in the Magistrates Court, which will add extra legal costs and impact landowners’ credit ratings.
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Cr Heit said that since the Council engaged R&R in late November, $643,798 in outstanding rates had been collected.
She also said comparing total outstanding rates between February 2017 and February 2018, the Council was $1.27 million better off.
“This result confirms ongoing recovery action taken by our rates staff and R&R is achieving results for all ratepayers,” she said.
Cr Heit said interest on the $1.27 million of outstanding rates had already helped improve the Council’s bottom line.
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The latest half-yearly rates notices were posted or emailed to landowners on February 20, and the last day for discount for will be Tuesday, March 27.
For the first time, this year the Rates Notice printing company are planning to send an SMS message to landowners’ mobile phones three days before the discount date to those who haven’t yet paid their rates to remind them the deadline is looming.
“We do have a generous discount compared to other Councils, so I encourage ratepayers to pay by the due date to take advantage of it,” Cr Heit said.
