Issue Date

Rate notices are generally issued in August after Council has adopted its annual budget.

Rates paid within 21 days of issue are eligible to enter a monetary prize competition.

Payment By Instalments

Ratepayers may elect to pay an account over $200 by four instalments.  Full details of due dates and instalment amounts will be displayed on the front of your notice.  Reminder notices will be sent for payment of subsequent instalments.  The payments of any arrears and interest accrued must be included in the first instalment payment.  Ratepayers will not be eligible for the instalment option if arrears or interest is outstanding.

Where the instalment option is taken, rate accounts will be levied with an additional fee of $3.50 per instalment and instalment interest of 5.5% pa, the cost of which are displayed on the front of the notice.  To elect to pay by instalments, please ensure that your payment of the first instalment is received by the due date, or the right to pay by instalments is forfeited.  Should there be any reason why payment cannot be made by the due date, please contact the rates section immediately to make alternative arrangements for payment (08 9347 6000).  An administration fee for this will apply.

Late Payment Interest

Penalty interest of 11% pa will accrue daily for unpaid amounts as follows:

No instalment option taken - Interest shall begin to accrue on rates and/or service charges that remain unpaid after the due date and continue to accrue until such time as the payment is paid.  Eligible pensioners and seniors are exempt.

Instalment option taken - Interest shall begin to accrue daily on any instalment payments that remain unpaid after the due date of the instalment and will continue to accrue until such a time as the instalment is paid.  Eligible pensioners and seniors are exempt.

Arrears - interest shall being to accrue at 1 July on all rates and/or service charges, including previous interest charges that remain on arrears.

Overdue Accounts

Where no election has been made to enter into an Instalment Option or alternative arrangements made, and where rates and service charges remain outstanding 35 days after the date of issue, legal action may be taken for their recovery without further notice.  Costs associated with the legal action to recover the outstanding debt will be added to the account.  If payment falls into arrears for a period of three years or more the Council may - (a) Take the land and let it on a lease, (b) Sell the land, (c) Have the land vested in the Municipality or (d) Have tha land vested in the Crown.

Change of Ownership

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act, when a person (whether as principal or agent) sells or disposes of land, the principal or agent must advise Council in writing within 21 days of the change in ownership, providing full details of the name and address of the purchaser.

Change of Address

Please advise the Council promptly in writing of any change of address.  There is a statutory obligation for an owner to ensure that Council has the correct address for the service of notices.

Objections

A property owner may lodge an objection against the valuation of a property within 60 days of the date of issue of the notice.  Such objection shuold be in writing, and lodged direct to The Valuer General, 18 Mount Street, Perth 6000.

A person may also object to the rate record in writing to the Town of Cambridge, within 42 days if the date of issue of this notice, on the basis that there is an error with (a) the identity of the owner/occupier (b) the land or part of is not rateable.

Ratepayers should note that the rates must be paid as assessed irrespective of whether an objection has been lodged.  Any reduction in rates as a result of a successful objection will be refunded.

Rebates and Deferments (Applicable to Rates and Emergency Services Levy only, all other charges to be paid in full)

To be eligible to register for rate concessions, under the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992, an applicant must be the owner and resident of the property on 1 July in the year the rates are levied.  For pension concessions, applicants must be in receipt of a pension and hold a Pensioner Concession Card or State Concession Card, or hold both a Seniors Card issued by the Office of Seniors Interests and a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.  For senior concessions, applicants must hold a Seniors Card issued by the Office of Seniors Interests.

Eligible pensioners are entitled to claim a rebate of up to 50% off the current years rates or may defer payment of those rates.

Persons who hold a Seniors Card issued by the Office of Seniors Interests and a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are entitled to the same level of concession and payment options as a pensioner.

Life tenants and applicants in receipt of a proportionate rebate cannot defer rates.

Seniors who hold only a Seniors Card issued by the Office of Seniors Interests are entitled to claim a rebate of up to 25% off the current year's rates, where the rebate is limited to a maximum amount, capped by The Office of State Revenue.  Seniors cannot defer their rates.

A pro-rata rebate may be available from the date of registration to applicants who become eligible after 1 July of the financial year.  Concessions only apply once your application is received and registered.

If your circumstances change, particularly with respect to your ownership or occupation of the property, or your eligibility as a Senior or Pensioner, you must notify Council immediately.  Your registration will be amended or cancelled as appropriate.

 Contact

For further information on Rates, please telephone 9347 6028.