North Burnett council says it has no immediate plan to sell properties that owe years of rates
An anonymous council statement issued on Wednesday said it had no immediate plan to sell properties that owed years of rates, but that ‘a sale of land motion for these properties will be presented’ to a future council meeting.
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The North Burnett Regional Council has reassured its ratepayers it has no immediate plan to sell properties with overdue rates.
The council’s monthly financial report presented at its February meeting stated that 20 properties in the council area had an outstanding rates balance of three or more years and were “likely candidates for sale for unpaid rates”.
“A sale of land motion for these properties will be presented to a forthcoming council meeting for council’s consideration,” the report said.
It was also reported that the council had around $131,000 of rates that were overdue by five of more years.
In response to an article published about the matter, and the public interest in it, the council issued a statement clarifying no decision had yet been made to sell any of the properties.
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“Council wishes to make clear that at this time, no decision has been made to sell any privately owned properties for rate arrears,” the statement, which was not attributed to anybody, said.
“Should the rates owing on any of those properties remain in arrears, then at a future time, council may consider a recommendation to sell those properties with unpaid rates.
“Council is not yet, at that point.
“For a property in rates arrears to progress to sale, a ratepayer-centred process is followed to recover the outstanding amount, which can sometimes take years.
“This includes the opportunity for the ratepayer to agree to an acceptable payment arrangement to progressively pay the amount of rates owing to council.
“Property sale is always a last resort for council.”
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