Elsie Lange
More than a year after a statewide investigation found Hume council was one of only two councils not to have a financial hardship policy in place, one has now been adopted.
A Victorian Ombudsman report, released in May last year, found a need for better services and stronger laws as “around one in 10 Victorians experienced some form of financial difficulty”.
At a meeting last week, Hume council voted to endorse a rates financial hardship policy, based on community feedback, to outline its commitment to helping residents having a hard time financially, through payment arrangements, or short or long-term deferrals.
Speaking at the meeting, councillor Jim Overend said it was great to see the finalised policy after a distressing few years for residents.
“With COVID-19 and at the moment with the financial hardship that’s going on with rate increases and so forth, there’s a lot of families who are finding it very tough out there,” Cr Overend said.
“As well as some elderly residents, who may have retired, and are finding themselves under stress at the moment.
“I think this rates hardship policy is a great thing, it’s very helpful, but at the same time I think residents have to be aware they need to speak up and let council know if they are suffering and not put their head in the sand, hoping it goes away.”
As of September 30, council was owed $21.3 million in old rate debts, and council said the pandemic continued to have a “significant impact” on its ability to collect overdue rates.
Cr Sam Misho wanted to remind residents that the burden of proof for applying for assistance under the hardship option had been eased.
Speaking to a report on the level of rate arrears, Cr Misho said council had worked hard in setting up payment plans and abolishing interest on arrangements in the 2022-23 financial year.
“At the end of the day, we are focused on public benefits, rates are a massive component of revenue that we get and that’s why we can do all our capital works, so we need to collect it… I highly encourage everybody to set up a payment arrangement,” he said.
