Marli Banks calls for discussion on waiving council rates

Town council could soon discuss the prospect of waiving rates for Alice Springs ratepayers and businesses in response to COVID-19.

Marli Banks is calling for a meeting to discuss options for ratepayers.

Town council could soon discuss the prospect of waiving rates for Alice Springs ratepayers and businesses in response to COVID-19.

Councillor Marli Banks will be tabling a motion for discussion at the Ordinary Meeting next week to ask elected members to waive rates to ease pressure on financial hardship.

Ms Banks said residents are concerned on what the future holds for their incomes and livelihoods.

“The community of Alice Springs is looking towards the ASTC to waive rates for a period to combat the economic strain that people are experiencing,” she said.

“We should be offering support in the form of waiving of Council rates under hardship and make this available to all rates payers equally to be applied for the first quarter of the 2020/2021 budget due in September.

“It is the right thing to do given the financial hit our community has taken, we can’t afford not to support the community. We need to be measured in how we approach this financial decision to ensure that due diligence is taken and we adapt with processes of best practice standards.”

According to Ms Banks, if every eligible rate payer was to apply for a rates waiver under the grounds of hardship, the financial impact on the Council could be up to $5,750,000 which is equivalent to one quarter of annual rates.

The motion also has the support of councillor Catherine Satour.

The Darwin council have announced they will defer rates for businesses and households but they stopped short of waiving them all together.

Darwin council will invest up to $55 million into the Darwin economy — including offering free on-street parking — with a stimulus package that will see them defer rates, waive fees and create a ‘green army’ in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The package, the largest by any local council in Australia in response to the coronavirus pandemic, will also see them reinvesting their February revenue into vouchers to be used at Darwin businesses, deferring rates and waiving fees and charges until June 30.