Nasinu Town Council is on the right track to improve its rate collection.

This was stated by the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar.

The Council announced that its current rate collection was not enough to carry out all its services diligently. The Council owed $9 million in rate arrears.

“In the last nine months, they have managed to reduce the arrears by 15 per cent and improve the collection from 40 per cent to 58 per cent,” Ms Kumar said.

“The result tells it all and I am confident they will improve this further. Rate profiling also helped Nasinu Town Council to plan recovery of rates.

“Nasinu Town Council has created categories of rate-payers based on the amount they owe, and the legal actions being undertaken by the enforcement team.”

She said the Ministry was creating awareness to rate payers to pay their rates.

The Ministry has launched a rates brochure, television and radio advertisement with a strong message to pay rates and help build better Towns and Cities.

The Ministry was providing guidance on strengthening the collection strategies and in connecting Councils with best collection practices.

“We also recognise the current economic situation and Nasinu Town Council is also helping with a payment arrangement to those who are facing genuine hardships,” Ms Kumar said.

“I encourage all rate payers with dues to contact Nasinu Town Council and make necessary arrangements.

“I believe, both Council and rate payers have to work in collaboration and fulfill their responsibilities to help transform our cities and towns.”

Progress of unpaid rates for Nasinu Town Council:

• CATEGORY A: Rate owed below $500 (2884 rate-payers): Follow ups completed (Phone/Email/Visits) and started issuing Demand Notice from Jan 2021, if no payment received.
• CATEGORY B: Rate owed from $501 to $1000 (459 rate-payers): All Demand Notices Served
• CATEGORY C: Rate owed from $1001 to $5000 (948 rate-payers): Small Claims Tribunal – 600 cases filed of which 130 called. Remaining 348 cases are being filed (work in progress) and to be completed by Jan 2021.
• CATEGORY D: More than $5001 owed (401 rate-payers): Magistrate Court– 169 cases filed of which 20 were called and 232 – filing in-progress and to be completed by Jan 2021.

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