Trevor Holland
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Hiya Everybody
Looks like we are all in the same boat. We haven’t seen anything on this yet either.
Our guess is that reinstatement will mean taking the entitlement back to the date of loss in January this year.
Blue Mountains was affected to the tune of approx. 300 rate accounts so we can expect a bit of an influx come the issue of the July rate notice if not before.
We will also be including an article in our quarterly newsletter regarding pensioner concessions and eligibility.
Regards
TrevorSue
Blue Mountains has approximately 36,000 rateable assessments. No significant growth.
Currently have Revenue Coordinator, Senior Revenue Officer, Part time Revenue Officer-Banking/Receipting, Revenue Officer-Debt Recovery, Revenue Officer – Pensioners/Section 603 Certificates, NAR Officer, Revenue Officer-Debtors & Temporary FESL Officer.
Water is done by Sydney Water.
Regards
TrevorHowdy Mary
We already charge for copies of rate notices for preceding years, especially where we are required to go back for a number of years. Generally we receive the request. Notify the customer of what the estimated charge will be and get them to pay by credit card over the phone once the search is complete. We don’t get that many requests so it is not a great problem.
I know we have spoken on the subject of charging for changing ownership details before.
Given that the legislation is silent than yes I agree it may be possible to raise this charge. However unlike Queensland NSW does not have this legislation in place. So am I correct in assuming that the charge is going to be subject to GST?
If the charge is subject to GST then it couldn’t be included on the rate notice. It would need to have a debtor account raised and sent out with recovery taken if not paid.
Hope this helps.
TrevorKen
Nothing up here.
Maybe because we are already an agency for ServiceNSW!
Hiya Everybody
Up here in the mountains we have a hall at Leura that is exempted from rates.
Although it may be technically incorrect every Council I have worked at have exempted CWA Halls from payment of rates.
The exemptions have generally been granted on the grounds of the work that the CWA does within the community could be deemed to be that of a public charity.
I also agree with the comments made by Neil regarding not wanting to upset the CWA Ladies or their Association. To do so would be at your own peril.
Hope this helps.
TrevorHowdy
BMCC checked with Treasury about the webinar and were advised as follows:“Thanks for your email. This was unfortunately a typo in the timeline. The webinar is actually scheduled to be recorded on the 25th November and it will then be posted to the Council Portal site in the week commencing 28 November. Another webinar was recorded last week to discuss the data exchange process with the Valuer General. We anticipate this one to be posted on the portal later this week.
Guess we need to wait until the details are on the Council Portal site.
Regards
TrevorAfternoon David
Can’t say I have ever heard to this group.
If you haven’t already I would be asking them for a copy of their Articles of Association or any other information that may help in making a determination.
Will be interested to hear what everyone else has to say.
Regards
TrevorHi Everyone
Will put my two bob’s worth in. Not sure if it will help or confuse but here goes.
We have properties up here in the mountains in the name of Fire & Rescue as well as Emergency Services.
All of these properties are rateable and it has never been questioned.
In fact we had one property that wasn’t being rated and the Fire Brigade rang to ask why.
For what it is worth I also came across some details in a book that I used when studying some years ago. Titled Local Government and Environmental Planning Law New South Wales.
The book makes reference to Section 132 of Local Government Act 1919 “Exemptions from Rates” and states as follows:
“The exemptions may be dealt with as in s132.Some of the exemptions have been litigated extensively; others have not”………….
(g) land owned by the Crown, not being –
(i) land held under a lease from the Crown by any person for private purposes;
(ii) land occupied and used by the Crown in connection with any industrial undertaking.
As part of the explanation it also states:
“The Governor may declare an undertaking to be an industrial undertaking for the purposes of section (Section 132(4)) and the Metropolitan Meat Industry Board and the Board of Fire Commissioners have been so declared”.
As the above related to the 1919 LGA I am unsure whether there has been a further declaration by the Governor under the current legislation or whether the initial declaration carries forward. Perhaps that is something that needs to be investigated further.
If anyone would like a copy of the extract from the book please let me know and I will happily scan and email it through.
Regards
TrevorHow very sad to hear this news. My condolences to Jane and John’s family for their loss.
Agree with Suzi. This is the process we followed we had sales fall through during the last SLFUR that we held.
Hi Cherie
BMCC is currently at $500 and 2 instalments.
Regards
TrevorMick
Blue Mountains charges an urgency fee of $67.00. It does get used even though we try to have Certificates turned around quickly.
Like Ken I am not sure how this figure was originally arrived at, but it is increased annually in line with other fee and charge increases.
TrevorThanks everyone for the responses.Really appreciate the feedback
Hi Lisa
I can recall many years ago, back in the days when we used the 1919 Local Government Act, designing and sending out a notice that combined a rate notice and 3 instalment notices that were perforated and detachable.This was in the days before we had to issue rate instalment reminders and most councils just issued the one account at the start of January each year. From memory it worked very well and was received positively by ratepayer’s in the community.
I can’t recall the overall size of the notice but I think it may have been A3 size so it could be folded and fitted into the envelope easily. I don’t recall there being any problems with the printing or folding and I think it may have been Sema (Security Mail as they were then called) doing the job for us.
You could probably adapt a similar idea for your waste vouchers.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
TrevorHi Ann
Think they probably would be exempt from the payment of a general rate if it can be determined that they are a public charity as required by the LGA.
Make sure you ask them for a copy of their Constition or Articles of Assocation. These documents will be of assitance as it will provide details on their purpose and disbursement of funds should the group disband.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Trevor -
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