Alice Springs Town council set to freeze council rates for 2020/2021 financial year
ALICE Springs residents could see their council rates frozen for the 2020/2021 financial year in response to the global coronavirus pandemic
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ALICE Springs residents could see their council rates frozen for the 2020/2021 financial year in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.
It has been recommended that Alice Springs Town Council adopt the freeze as part of the 2020/2021 budget and municipal plan.
In the draft municipal plan Mayor Damien Ryan said council was in a strong position to provide support to ratepayers through a number of measures.
“Significantly, council identified a $5 million COVID-19 reserve to implement relief measures in support of our community, which includes extensions on rates due dates and reduced penalties for late payment,” he said.
“There is also a freeze on percentage increases on all rates.”
The freeze will save the community between $500,000 and $600,000 but council still expects to raise $22,876,950 through council rates, while increases beyond this year will raise revenue to more than $26 million in 2024.
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Residents could also see a reduction in the current penalty interest on late rates from 19 per cent down to 9 per cent on all rate payers effective from June 30, 2020.
Council will vote on the rate freeze at Monday night’s council meeting.
Originally published as Alice Springs Town council set to freeze council rates for 2020/2021 financial year