Hundreds of residents, business owners apply for council rate relief as coronavirus shutdowns bite
As people continue to do it tough amid the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of residential and business ratepayers are approaching their local council for a financial lifeline.
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Hundreds of Adelaide businesses and homeowners have already applied to have their council rates deferred, as the economic fallout from coronavirus takes hold.
And that number is expected to grow as councils finalise their 2020/21 budgets, many including a range of rate-relief measures.
A Messenger survey of Adelaide councils found that, of those that responded, almost all had received applications for rate assistance.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Adelaide’s largest council, Onkaparinga, had received the largest number of requests for help, with about 550 ratepayers entering into payment plans since March 11 – the day coronavirus was declared a pandemic.
But ratepayers of smaller councils were also coming forward in numbers.
Prospect Council had 75 people contact it in one week about rate payment options – and it expected more.
“As (the) council is waiving the rates interest and fines until December 31, many have not yet submitted an application to defer their rates repayment,” a statement said.
Walkerville – Adelaide’s smallest council – had received five applications for rate assistance.
In the west, Port Adelaide Enfield had received 286 applications from struggling home and business owners, with 26 being approved for payment plans and 96 granted a deferral of their fourth quarter rates.
“Approval time for rate relief applications is usually the same day but can take a few days longer if more information is required,” a council statement said, adding the process was “quite simple and streamlined”.
Marion had already approved 160 applications for rate deferrals, the majority of them – 106 – from homeowners.
In Charles Sturt, the council had received about 140 requests for hardship help, with “tailored payment arrangements to suit these people’s circumstances”.
It had also waived all late-payment penalty fines and interest until October 31.
Heading north, and Playford had 94 requests for relief, Salisbury 44 and Gawler 53.
Salisbury had approved at least 12 applications to have fourth quarter 2019/20 and first quarter 2020/21 rates deferred, and was still assessing the remainder.
“No applicants have been determined as unsuccessful but in some instances a request for additional information has been made,” the council said in a statement.
Other councils to have had official requests for rate assistance were:
ADELAIDE City Council – 56 applications
ADELAIDE Hills Council – 40 (approx)
BURNSIDE – 9
MITCHAM – 16
NORWOOD, Payneham & St Peters – 70
TEA Tree Gully – 18
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Campbelltown Council said as its rate relief options were “automatic” it had “no record of how many people will take them up as there is no record of application”.
Unley also did not provide numbers, but said it had deferred the payment of rates until August 31 for all ratepayers and that it “encouraged” people experiencing financial hardship to seek a payment plan beyond that.
Meanwhile, Mitcham Council has included a 10 per cent rate reduction for residents financially affected by COVID-19 in its draft 2020/21 budget.
For all other residents, the council is suggesting a 1.91 per cent rate increase.
Draft budget consultation papers said the 10 per cent reduction would save ratepayers, on average, $146, while the 1.91 per cent increase would add $34 to the average rates bill.