2016-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

Revenue Statement -2016/17

2.3.3.3 Administrative Errors
An extended discount period will be allowed if Council has failed to correctly issue the rates notice
in sufficient time to permit the ratepayer to make payment before the expiration of the discount
period. The extended discount period will be equivalent to that period provided to other ratepayers
and will commence from the date Council specifies.
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




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