Extra Time to Pay Your Rates

Published 06 August 2021

Rates

The due date for rates notices will be extended by a month in response to the current lockdown, giving Moreton Bay Region’s ratepayers an extra four weeks to cover their bills. 

The original due date of 18 August 2021 has now been extended until 15 September 2021.

Council unanimously voted in  favour of a range of assistance measures for ratepayers, local businesses and community organisations who have been impacted by COVID-19.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the suite of initiatives including extending rates and food licence renewal due dates, as well as fast tracking payments to suppliers will provide some relief to those doing it tough.

“Extending the due date of rates by four weeks, and the payment renewal of food licences until 3 January 2022 will help reduce the immediate burden on businesses and individuals suffering financial loss as a result of the lockdown,” Mayor Flannery said.

“This is about affording people a little time if that’s all they need to get on top of their bills and provide them with additional short term cashflow to be able to sustain and recover from the lockdown.

“For Council contractors and suppliers we’re continuing our accelerated payment terms to ensure that cash gets into their pockets and our economy faster, because we are acutely aware that cashflow is one of the greatest stresses for local businesses right now. 

“Since the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, Council has supported the community and local businesses through a raft of assistance measures and targeted projects to stimulate the local economy totalling over $55 million.

“Last financial year we injected a massive $104 million in combined government spending on infrastructure projects to boost our local economy, fund 146 projects and support more than 1500 jobs.

“I’m proud to say Moreton Bay Regional Council provided 40% of that funding to make this enormous stimulus initiative a reality and we were one of the most agile Councils in the country in terms of recognising the benefit of pitching these shovel-ready projects to state and federal governments for funding, as a way to keep our local economy ticking through COVID lockdowns.

“In fact Moreton Bay acted before most Councils way back in March 2020 to ensure immediate support to our community by activating almost all of the levers available to local governments.”

These measures include:

• Providing $7 million in Community Infrastructure Revitalisation and Community Hardship and Assistance Grants

• Rates rebates

• Food Licence refunds (two financial years)

• Suspension of rate collection activities and an introduction of an interest free period

• Deferred payment of infrastructure charges for development projects

• The introduction of a Local Preference Objective in our Procurement policy

• Fast tracking $4 million in additional contracted maintenance works

• Recruitment of Council staff providing employment opportunities

• Fast tracking of payments to suppliers to assist businesses manage cashflow impacts (two payments weekly for the last 18 months upon approval of invoice).

For more COVID-19 support, visit https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Council/Coronavirus-COVID-19