CONCESSIONS
In order to qualify for a concession on rates:
- Applicants must be responsible for the payment of rates on the property which is their principal place of residence.
- Applicants must be eligible and residing at their principal place of residence on the due date for the first quarter’s rates.
State Government Concessions:
You may be eligible for council rates concession (and water and effluent charges, where applicable) if:
- You are a pensioner and have a current Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold Card (TPI, EDA, WW) or receive a Centrelink Allowance. Apply through the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) Concessions Hotline – 1800 307 758 or at www.sa.gov.au/concessions using the on-line form.
- You are a low income wage earner who meets the DCSI low income threshold. Apply through the DCSI Concessions Hotline – 1800 307 758.
- You are a Self-Funded Retiree who holds a State Seniors Card. Apply through the DCSI Concessions Hotline – 1800 307 758.
For more information see the leaflet 'Are you Eligible?' below, or visit www.sa.gov.au/concessions
Are you eligible for a concession
Postponement of rates – Seniors:
Ratepayers who hold a State Seniors Card (or who are eligible to hold a State Seniors Card and have applied for one) are able to apply to Council to postpone payment of rates on their principal place of residence. Postponed rates remain as a charge on the land and are not required to be repaid until the property is sold or disposed of. The following application form for Postponement of rates - Seniors will need to be completed and submitted to Council:
Application for Postponement of Rates - Seniors
Ratepayers who believe they are entitled to a concession should not withhold payment of rates pending assessment of an application by the State Government as penalties apply to overdue rates.
Remission of Rates or Postponement of Rates - Financial Hardship
Remission of rate, fines and postponement of rates on the basis of hardship are provided for under the Local Government Act 1999. In particular Section 182 contains provisions for remission or postponement of rates in whole or in party on the basis of hardship.
Applications for remission or rates or postponement of rates from ratepayers suffering ongoing or extreme financial hardshi, will consider each application on an individual basis and on its own merits. Postponed rates (on the basis of hardship) are also subject to evidenced ongoing extreme hardship criteria.
The following application form will need to be completed and submitted along with the required supporting documentation (outlined in the application) to Council:
Application for Remission or Rates or Postponement of Rates - Financial Hardship
REBATES
Council’s powers to raise rates are found in Chapter 10 of the Local Government Act 1999 (“the Act”). The Act provides the framework within which the Council must operate, but also leaves room for the Council to make a range of policy choices.
The Rating Policy includes reference to compulsory features of the rating system, as well as the policy choices that the Council has made on how it imposes and administers the collection of rates.
All land within a Council area, except for land specifically exempt (eg Crown Land, Council occupied land, land occupied by an emergency services organisation under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005, land specified in the Recreation Grounds Rates and Taxes Exemption Act 1981 and a few other limited categories - see section 147 of the Act), is rateable.
In addition to rates, Council also raises some revenue through:
- A fixed charge (under Section 152(1)(c) of the Act); and
- Annual service charges
- Waste collection (per bin) based on 100% of actual costs of rubbish and recyclables collection
- Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS)
The Act requires Council to rebate the rates for land used for Health Services and Religious Purposes, at the prescribed rate of 100 percent in accordance with Sections 160 and 162 of the Act. Education Purposes are at a prescribed rate of 75 percent in accordance with Section 165 of the Act.
Where a person or body is entitled to a mandatory rebate of 75 percent, the Council may, pursuant to Section 159 (4) of the Act, and at Council’s absolute discretion, increase the rebate to greater than 75 percent. The Council may grant a higher rebate upon application, or on its own merit.
Community service organisations are also eligible for a rebate under Section 161 of the Act, under certain conditions.
Lastly, Council can apply a discretionary rebate of rates under Section 166 of the Act, upon application. For a complete list of provisions and purposes, please consult the provided form or the Act.