Rates postponement and remission policy consultation
Council is proposing a new scheme to support people experiencing financial hardship as a result of epidemics, pandemics and natural disasters. It is proposed that this new scheme will be included within a new combined Rates postponement and remissions policy which will replace the existing separate policies.
The scheme would provide the ability for ratepayers whose income has been reduced by 20% or more to postpone their rates by a year, after which they will have the opportunity to convert this to a targeted rate to allow for up to an additional three years prior to repayment. Under the proposed scheme an interest of 3.5% would apply and all rates would need to be repaid at the end of the postponement period.
The full text of the new proposed scheme can be found on icc.govt.nz