The Nausori Town Council collected $1.3 million in rates for 2019, however, twice that amount is owed to the council in arrears.

Nausori Town Council acting chief executive officer Lydia Lazel-Racule said arrears at the end of 2019 stood at $2.76 million.

Despite this, the council noted improvements in its administration this year.

“Nausori Town Council has not met its targets and I admit there are shortfalls, but we are looking to improve that,” Ms Lazel-Racule said.

“As of this year, we have embarked on a journey to improve our service delivery to our ratepayers.”

As of February 21, 2020, Nausori Town Council had collected $653,899.36 in rates this year.

Ms Lazel-Racule said difficulties in rates collection had arisen because of absentee landlords.

She said there were some instances where the owners of properties were not known by the council.

She said they had also come across a number of instances where the ratepayers were in tough financial situations.The council has also taken stringent steps in collecting arrears.

The council has started a one hour programme every Wednesday when staff of the council and members of the community get together to clean up Nausori.

Edited by Percy Kean

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