Local government changes aim to reduce stress caused to ratepayers in these unprecedented circumstances.
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But this week, Bega Valley Shire's residents will receive their fourth rates instalment notice.
"Council understands residents are experiencing a period of great challenge, however it is a legislative requirement that we issue this instalment at this time," Bega Valley Shire Council's general manager Leanne Barnes said.
"We encourage people to enter into a payment plan if you cannot pay this instalment in full within the payment timeframe."
Recently, the NSW government made a series of regulatory changes to ensure council resources continue to be focused on bushfire recovery and frontline COVID-19 response efforts.
"The changes provide councils with the flexibility to adjust to rapidly shifting circumstances," Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said.
"Importantly, they also give ratepayers more time to pay their rates notices and allows councils to provide financial support to businesses suffering from reduced cash flows or forced closure, by waiving or reducing fees."
Amendments to local government regulations include:
- Allowing councils to delay sending out the first quarterly rates notice for 2020-21 and extend the payment deadline by one month;
- Enabling councils to immediately waive or reduce fees for services such as food premise inspections and footpath usage for COVID-19 affected businesses, without the need to provide 28 days public notice;
- Providing councils with a one-month extension to adopt their 2020-21 operational plans and budgets and submit their 2019-20 audited financial statements and annual reports. Councils will also have an extra month to submit their last quarterly budget review statement for 2019-20;
- Removing the requirement for documents to be made available for inspection at council offices, if the document is published on the council's website or available electronically;
- Removing the requirement for council notices to be advertised in newspapers and instead allow the relevant notice to be published on the council's website.
Ms Barnes welcomed the changes and said council was meeting on April 29 to discuss the ongoing and combined impact of COVID-19 and the bushfires, and what this situation means for the management and collection of rates going forward.
"Following this meeting, we will inform the community of the rates issue outcome, which we anticipate will be favourable to ratepayers," she said.
If residents want more information or have concerns, put them in writing via email to council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au or via the post to PO Box 492, Bega NSW 2550.
