WAKOOL Shire Council has stepped up action against ratepayers
who collectively owe the shire about $1 milllion.
Council’s Quarterly Budget
Review of December 2012 found $30,000 had been recovered this financial year
through council’s debt recovery activities.
In discussing the budget review
at their monthly meeting last week, director of corporate services Peter Arthur
said rates were outstanding because some ratepayers refused to pay, while others
were in payment plans over a longer period.
Outstanding rates and charges
reached $1.04 million in June 2012. The amount of outstanding rates and charges
compared with the collectable total increased about two per cent on the previous
year.
With a 2011/2012 budget of about $23.5 million, councillors were
concerned about the sizable portion not going to essential services.
For more on this story, see Monday’s edition of The Guardian (25/2/13).
