New rate payment option for Dandenong residents
Victoria’s Greater Dandenong Council has approved an alternative option for rates payments this financial year.
The new approach will continue to provide residents with the option of either lump sum or instalment payments, but will significantly reduce the penalty interest applied by Council.
Residents who still want to pay their rates in a lump sum will pay the full amount on the first instalment date of 30 September.
Under the previous system, the fixed date for lump sum payments was 15 February.
Corporate Services Director Mick Jaensch said by reducing the time between when the rates notice is first issued and the payment date, missed payments should be minimised.
He said interest charges for missed payments will also decrease significantly under the
new system.
Penalty interest will be backdated only to the due date of the payment, instead of the beginning of the financial year as previously applied.
“Charging residents seven months interest for missing a payment date by days has caused residents considerable angst,” Mick Jaensch said. “This new system will remove this situation and will lead to improved relations between Council and residents.”
Council voted to adopt the new rate payment option in June following community feedback during the 2009/10 Council Budget submission process.
For further information contact Mick Jaensch on (03) 9239 5100.
