Council rates in South Australia could soon have a new look. A model rates notice designed to provide clear information to ratepayers has been prepared and sent to Councils by the Local Government Association.
“The reality is that Council rates notices, by their nature, are complicated documents,” LGA President Councillor John Legoe said. “Rates notices must meet legislative requirements and make reference to several government agencies and processes including the Valuer General, Catchment Water Management Levy and Revenue SA.
“We have worked to make the model notice easier to understand for communities but still compliant with legislation.With some existing notices, I am afraid some ratepayers may not be making the best choices or even be failing to apply for concessions because they have not understood what options and actions can be taken.”
Councillor Legoe said that the LGA had consulted widely with bodies such as Council on the Ageing (COTA) National Seniors to ensure the model notice was as clear and simple to understand as was possible within legislative requirements. He said the model had brought together good practices and input from Council communications staff, the Office of the Valuer General, Revenue SA, other Government agencies and lawyers Norman Waterhouse.
“The design is also important to ensure that key information such as the due date for the first quarterly payment stands out.”
Councillor Legoe said the LGA would also be talking to Government agencies about whether some legislative and regulatory requirements could be modified to retain the legal intent but to allow clearer communication in future rates notices.
“These changes would require a longer timeframe than could be accommodated for the 2005/06 rates year and so the current model is our best practice attempt within the existing constraints,” he said.
