2014-06-18 Special Meeting Budget

Noosa Shire Council Revenue Statement


2.3.3.4 Payment Errors
Where there is an apparent accidental short payment of the rates resulting from a miscalculation of
the net amount due, arising from the payment of a number of rate notices at one time (i.e. addition
error) OR the tendering of an incorrect amount for a single rate notice (i.e. transposition error)
THEN discount will be allowed in the following manner:
        WHERE THE AMOUNT OF THE ERROR IS $50.00 OR LESS
Full discount will be allowed and the underpaid amount will be treated as ‘Arrears of Rates’.
        WHERE THE AMOUNT OF THE ERROR EXCEEDS $50.00
The Ratepayer will be advised in writing of the error and given 14 days to pay the shortfall. If the
shortfall is paid by the extended due date so advised full discount will be allowed at that time.
Allowance of discount in these circumstances will NOT be allowed if any transposition error or
addition error exceeds 20% of the total net rates payable on the single rate notice or the number of
rate notices paid at one time.

2.4 Pensioner Concessions
Council’s pensioner rate concession to eligible pensioners shall be allowed under Chapter 4, Part
10 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
2.4.1    Eligibility Criteria
The pensioner:
1. Must comply with eligibility criteria contained in the Queensland Government’s Rate Subsidy
   Scheme and must possess a current, valid qualifying concession card, namely:
        Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs OR
        Repatriation Health (Gold) Card - (for all Conditions) issued by the Department of Veteran
         Affairs; and
2.   Must be the owner (either solely or jointly), or be an eligible life tenant, in accordance with the
     guidelines for the State Government Rate Subsidy Scheme, of property within the shire which
     is their principal place of residence, AND must have (either solely or jointly) with a co-owner,
     the legal responsibility for payment of rates and charges which are levied in respect of the said
     property by the Council. In the case of joint ownership, the concession will apply only to the
     approved pensioner’s proportionate share of the applicable rates and charges, except where
     the co-owners are an approved pensioner and his/ her spouse. In this situation the concession
     will apply to the full amount of applicable rates and charges; and
3.   Must, if a ‘first time’ applicant, lodge and complete the prescribed application to be entitled to a
     rate concession. The information on this application form will be used by Council to verify the
     eligibility of all pensioners (Centrelink and Veteran Affairs pension recipients). Upon proof of
     eligibility, the entitlement to a concession will commence from either the card start date shown
     on the Pensioner Concession Card or the date of occupation of their principal place of
     residence or the start of the current rating period, whichever is the latter date. Such entitlement
     shall continue until the sale of that property or until the entitlement to a pension ceases to
     exist; and
4.   Must, if an ‘existing’ applicant, lodge another application if required by Council OR on the
     acquisition of a replacement property within the shire. Entitlements to a concession will
     continue without interruption if such application is received within a month of the request for a
     new application or of the property settlement; and
5.   Must have owned, or otherwise paid rates on, property within the shire for the preceding 3
     years. Pensioner concession may be allowed where the applicant has paid rates on property
     within the shire for 5 of the last 10 years, so long as the "gap" between ownerships in this
     period does not exceed 12 months. Discretion may be applied in relation to contribution to the
     shire regarding continuous residency, consistent with pensioner concession arrangements as
     listed above. For holders of the Repatriation Health (Gold) card issued by the Department of
     Veteran Affairs who have been classified as Totally and Permanently Incapacitated the three
     year ownership provision is waived.


Revenue Statement Page 7                                                                       Page 16