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

Alice Springs ratepayers won’t have to worry about increasing rates this year, if Monday night’s vote goes their way

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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.

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