Council chases overdue rates
RESIDENTS with outstanding rates have been given one last chance by South Burnett Regional Council.
On Wednesday, the council asked its finance department to pursue 39 ratepayers who owed a total of $252,701.03.
That number is down from 43 ratepayers in October.
If the ratepayers fail to comply, the council will be forced to sell off their properties in February.
Any left unsold will become council property.
The issue was first flagged at last month's council meeting when it was revealed $305,000 worth of rates were outstanding.
Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said the rates had been outstanding for at least three years in all the cases.
He said people had been contacted by the council on numerous occasions and they had been given enough time to pay them off.
"People have until February to pay off these rates or, under the Local Government Act, we are entitled to sell off their property," Cr Kratzmann said.
"But that's not what we want to do, so I am urging these ratepayers to contact the council and arrange to pay off these rates."
In February, the council will meet again and decide what the next steps of recovery will be for the final remaining rate
payers.
Do you think councils should be able to sell off properties to reclaim rates? Join the conversation online at southburnetttimes.com.au.
