549 properties under rates collection management in Livingstone Shire

The cost of living crunch is being felt in Livingstone Shire where the amount of rates outstanding and the number of properties under collection management has reached a new high.

Livingstone Shire Council's chief financial officer Andrea Ellis (inset) has given councillors an update on the shire's outstanding rates situation.

More than 500 properties are under rates collection management in Livingstone Shire as the cost of living crisis bites hard.

It was revealed at the latest monthly council meeting that outstanding rates eligible for collection stood at just over $7 million - a figure which is higher than the same time last year.

It was further revealed that 549 of the shire’s 18,490 rateable properties were under rates collection management, with Livingstone’s chief financial officer Andrea Ellis telling councillors the gravity of the situation.

“This is the first time in quite some time that it has been higher in both value and the number of assessments under management, and we’re closely monitoring the impact for our ratepayers,” Ms Ellis said.

Council documents state that compared to the same time last year, there is an increase of 48 assessments and $125,000 more under rates collection management.

Livingstone Shire Council's chief financial officer Andrea Ellis.

Councillor Rhodes Watson asked Ms Ellis whether the outstanding rates figure was water rates or just general rates, to which Ms Ellis replied: “I don’t have the breakdown between general rates and water rates - I think it would be a combination of both.”

Further speaking about the monthly financial report for March, Ms Ellis said Livingstone was currently reporting an operating surplus of $25.3 million.

“And that’s largely attributable to the fact that we’ve levied our half-yearly rates which were due early March,” she said.

“Overall operating revenue and expenditure continue to remain within year-to-date budget forecasts.”

Councillors voted unanimously to accept the monthly financial report.

In Livingstone, ratepayers have the option to enter into formal payment arrangements, preventing legal action being progressed by the council’s debt collection agency.

In 2023-24, the council resolved to charge 7 per cent per annum on overdue rates and utility charges, applied monthly, on all overdue balances including those under a formal payment agreement.

This percentage rate has remained the same since the 2018-19 financial year despite recent large increases in CPI.

Livingstone Shire Council said council officers were committed to working with any ratepayer who was experiencing difficulty in paying their rates and charges, and it “strongly encouraged” anyone in this position to make early contact with the council.

Originally published as 549 properties under rates collection management in Livingstone Shire