Paul Versteege of CPSA welcomes Coffs Council pensioner rebate but notes rising rates
Advocacy group welcomes continuation of much needed Coffs Council rebate from but says rising rates have led to diminished impact.
Coffs Harbour
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As council announces Coffs Harbour pensioners will be eligible for up to $1.8 million in rate rebates this financial year.
On Thursday Coffs Harbour City Council resolved to continue a pensioner rebate scheme that will boost mandatory state government rate rebates by more than $650,000.
All NSW councils give a mandatory rebate to eligible pensioners of up to $250.00 off ordinary rates, $87.50 off water charges and $87.50 off sewer charges.
Coffs Harbour Mayor Denise Knight said providing the voluntary rebates meant eligible pensioners would get an average cut of $87.50 per year on their domestic waste charge, plus $23.53 on the Environmental Levy in addition.
“This means that the average pensioner will get a reduction of around $500 off their rates bill – $111 of which is made up of Council’s voluntary contributions,” Ms Knight said.
“Pensioners who are eligible for the voluntary rebates will again benefit enormously from this measure.”
Paul Versteege, policy advisor for Combined Pensioner and Superannuants Association welcomed the additional rate assistance but noted that mandatory rebates, introduced by the State Government more than 25 years ago, had flatlined.
“The amount was set as a dollar amount and has never been indexed,” Mr Versteege said.
“At the time (the rebate) represented a 50 per cent discount on rates.
“Over that long period the real value of that rebate has reduced and is probably worth about 15 per cent statewide.”
With rate increases meaning rebates had less of an impact, Mr Versteege said when Councils stepped in it made a difference.
“Any bit extra that a council can give is very helpful, particularly for full rate pensioners that don’t have any other income,” he said. “It is very important.”
Council has been providing voluntary pensioner rate rebates for these costs since 1997.
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