When are my rates  due?

Annual rates can be paid in full at the first instalment in September or in four equal instalments due in September, December, March and June. The outstanding balance can be paid in full at any time. Council will send out instalment notices to ratepayers, advising them of their next instalment due date at least 30 days prior to the due date. Council is also now sending out reminders in the form of SMS texts for all accounts that are overdue. Council provides a range of payment options.

Instalment Due Dates

• Instalment 1 - 16 September 2024
• Instalment 2 - 16 December 2024
• Instalment 3 - 17 March 2024
• Instalment 4 - 16 June 2024

The purpose of this penalty is to:

• act as a deterrent to ratepayers who might otherwise  fail to pay their rates on time.
• allow Councils to recover the administrative cost of following up unpaid rates.
• cover any interest cost the Council may incur because it has not received the rates on time.

Rates remaining unpaid.

Rates remaining unpaid will be charged interest each month, set each year in accordance with Section191(8)(c) of the Act. Council may at its discretion remit penalties for late payment of rates where ratepayers can demonstrate hardship (refer to the Roxby Council Municipal Rates Hardship Policy on Council's website).

Council issues an overdue notice for payment of rates unpaid by the due date. Should rates remain unpaid for  more than 21 days after the issue of the overdue notice, the Council may refer the debt to a debt collection agency. The deb collection agency charges collection fees  that are recoverable from the ratepayer. When the Council receives a payment in respect of overdue rates, the Council applies the money received in accordance with the sequence prescribed in Section 183 of the Act.

The prescribed sequence is:

1. Satisfying any costs awarded in connection with court proceedings.
2. Satisfying any interest costs.
3. Paying any fines imposed.
4. Payment of rates, in chronological order (starting with the oldest amount owing).

Do penalties apply to outstanding rates?

Penalties do apply to outstanding rates. Any rate payer who may experience difficulty with meeting the standard payment requirements or is planning an extended absence at the time rates are due, is encouraged to contact our Rates Officer on 8671 0010 to discuss alternative payment arrangements.

Can I postpone my rates if I have a Seniors Card?

Pursuant to Section 182A of the Local Government Act 1999 if you hold a State Government Seniors Card, you can apply to postpone part of your Council rates for the current or a future financial year.

The deferred amount will still incur a monthly interest charge, and the accrued debt will become payable when your property is sold or disposed of.
As a South Australian Seniors Card holder, you can only apply for postponement if:

• The property is your principal place of residence.
• No other person other than your spouse or domestic partner has an interest as owner of the property.

Maximum Rate Increase Cap

The Council may fix a maximum increase in the general rate charged on any rateable land within its area that constitutes the principal place of residence of a principal ratepayer under Section 153 (3) of the Local Government Act 1999. If the Council fixes a maximum increase, it will do so on the application of the property owner for the relevant year ending 30 June provided that:

• The property has been the principal place of residence of the principal ratepayer since at least 1 July of the previous financial year.
• The property has not been subject to a change in land use since 1 July of the previous financial year.
• The property has not been subject to improvements with a value of more than $20,000 since 1 July of the previous financial year.

Enquiries can be made by contacting Roxby Council’s Rates Officer on 8671 0010 or by emailing roxby@roxbycouncil.com.au.

Which properties are eligible for a rate rebate?

The Local Government Act 1999 (the Act) provides that the Council must grant a rebate of Council rates in specified circumstances. The rebates relate to:

• Land used by a not-for-profit community service organisation for specified services (pursuant to Section 161).
  Land containing a church or other building used for public worship and land used solely for religious purposes (pursuant to Section 162).
  Land used for specified educational purposes (pursuant to Section 165).

Who else is eligible for a rebate?

Section 166 of the Local Government Act 1999 sets out the circumstances in which Council can grant discretionary rebates of up to 100%. Rebates are reviewed and approved by Council on an annual basis.

What if I’m experiencing hardship?

If you are concerned about the payment of your Council rates, please contact Council on 8671 0010 to discuss your personal circumstances and organise alternative payment arrangements before the payment is due. Can I postpone my rates payment if I’m experiencing hardship? Under Section 182 of the Local Government Act 1999, you can apply to postpone your rates if payment would cause you hardship. You need to meet the following criteria:

• That hardship can be proven (such as by providing a statement of income and expenses).
• You agree to pay interest on the amount that the cash advance debenture rate, calculated monthly and published by the Local Government Finance Authority for 1 July each year.
• The property is your principal residence and is the only property you own.
• You have owned the property and used it as your principal residence for a minimum of 1 year.
• You can produce our Pensioner Concession Card from Centrelink or  Veterans Affairs, or you can demonstrate that you are a self-funded retiree with a household income of less than $25,000 a year.

We strongly encourage any rate payer to contact us if they anticipate that they will have difficulty paying rates instalments when they fall due.

To view Councils Municipal Rates Hardship Policy, please click here

Other Relevant Policies

• Municipal Rating Policy
•  
• Rate Debt Recovery Policy

What happens if rates are in arrears for more than three years?

Section 184 of the Local Government Act 1999 provides that a Council may sell any property where the rates have been in arrears for three years or more. The Council is required to notify the owner of its intention to sell the land if payment of the outstanding amount is not received within one month and must provide the owner with details of the outstanding amounts. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the Council enforces the sale of land for arrears of rates.

The Municipal Council of Roxby Downs (“Council”) is committed to ensuring openness and transparency of governance to stakeholders while protecting the privacy of individuals. This policy outlines how the Council will approach the collection, storage, disclosure and use of personal information.

To view our Privacy Policy please flick here