Paying Your Rates
Council has decided that in line with the new requirements under the Local Government Act 1999, that the payment of all rates can be made in quarterly instalments due on or before the following dates:
- First Instalment Thursday 8th September 2011
- Second Instalment Thursday 8th December 2011
- Third Instalment Thursday 8th March 2012
- Fourth Instalment Thursday 7th June 2012
Council is offering a discount of 2.5% for the payment in full of all rates and service charges for the 2009/2010 financial year by Thursday 10th September 2009.
Rates may be paid:
- In person at the Council office, corner of Cross Street and West Terrace, Kimba between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm
- By post, to the District Council of Kimba, PO Box 189, Kimba SA 5641.
- Direct debit
Payments can be made by either cash, cheque or credit card.
Any ratepayer who may, or is likely to, experience difficulty with meeting the standard payment arrangements is invited to contact Jo Schaefer, Rates Officer or Deb Larwood, Manager Corporate Services on (08) 8627 2026 to discuss alternative payment arrangements. Such inquiries are treated confidentially by Council.
Late Payment of Rates
The Local Government Act 1999 provides that Councils impose a penalty of a 2% fine on any payment for rates, whether instalment or otherwise, that is received late. A payment that continues to be late is then charged an interest rate, set each year according to a formula in the Act, for each month it continues to be late. The purpose of this penalty is to act as a genuine deterrent to ratepayers who might otherwise fail to pay their rates on time, to allow Councils to recover the administrative cost of following up unpaid rates and to cover any interest cost the Council may meet because it has not received the rates on time.
After the payment date has expired, any ratepayer who has had late payment penalties applied and is aggrieved by such imposition, must apply in writing to Council stating their reasons if they seek remission of the penalties.
Council issues a final notice for payment of rates when rates are overdue i.e. unpaid by the due date. Should rates remain unpaid more than 21 days after the issue of the final notice then Council may refer the debt to a debt collection agency. The debt collection agency charges collection fees that are recoverable from the ratepayer.
When Council receives a payment in respect of overdue rates, Council applies the money received as follows:
- First - to satisfy any costs awarded in connection with court proceedings
- Second - to satisfy any interest costs
- Third - in payment of any fines imposed
- Fourth - in payment of rates, in chronological order (starting with the oldest account first
Remission and Postponement of Rates
Section 182 of the Local Government Act 1999 permits Council, on the written application of a ratepayer, to partially or wholly remit rates or to postpone rates, on the basis of hardship. Where a ratepayer is suffering hardship in paying rates he/she is invited to contact Jo Schaefer, Rates Officer or Deb Larwood, Manager Admin Services, on (08) 8627 2026 to discuss the matter. Such inquiries are treated confidentially by Council.
Rebate of Rates
The Local Government Act 1999 requires Councils to rebate the rates payable on some land. Specific provisions are made for land used for health services, community services, religious purposes, public cemeteries, the Royal Zoological Society and educational institutions. Discretionary rebates may be applied by Council under Section 166 of the Act.
Any person or body eligible for a rebate may apply in writing to Council, providing as much detail as possible to substantiate the grounds for a rebate in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999. Full information on the rates rebates section of the Act is available by contacting Jo Schaefer, Rates Officer,or Deb Larwood, Manager Admin Services on 8627 2026.
Sale of Land for Non-Payment of Rates
The Local Government Act 1999 provides that Council may sell any property where the rates have been in arrears for three years or more. Council is required to notify the owner of the land of its intention to sell the land, provide the owner with details of the outstanding amounts, and advise the owner of its intention to sell the land if payment of the outstanding amount is not received within one month.
The District Council of Kimba considers such action as a last resort, if more acceptable solutions are not available.
