Have Your Say: Draft Revenue Collection and Financial Hardship Policy
Moira Shire Council is seeking community feedback on the draft Revenue Collection and Financial Hardship Policy. This policy aims to ensure fair and transparent revenue collection, balancing Council’s responsibility to collect rates and fees with support for residents experiencing financial hardship.
The draft policy consolidates and updates existing policies, introducing clearer guidelines for debt collection, flexible payment options, and financial hardship support. It also incorporates new provisions for managing outstanding debts while ensuring residents in difficult circumstances can access appropriate relief measures.
We want to hear from you! Your input is essential in shaping a policy that reflects the needs of our community.
Community engagement runs from Thursday, 27 February, until Thursday, 20 March 2025.
Policy Overview
Ensures Council collects rates and fees fairly while supporting residents facing financial hardship.
Covers all ratepayers and debtors, including property owners, businesses, and individuals owing money to Council.
Residents can pay in quarterly instalments, annual lump sums, or flexible payment plans.
Residents in hardship can apply for support, including payment plans, temporary deferrals, or waived penalty interest.
Council applies early intervention strategies to follow up outstanding debts, prior to debts being forwarded to our debt collection service provider.
It’s Council’s preference to work with rate payers and debtors on recovery of outstanding debts, rather than escalating debts through third party providers.
Flexible recovery options are available to those members of the community facing situations of hardship.
Interest may be applied on unpaid Council fees where the debt remains unpaid after 60 days or on Council rates where payment is not received by the relevant due date.
Interest will not apply where hardship arrangements are in place.
The final course of recovery action available to Council under Section 181 of the Local Government Act 1989 allows for the sale of property for the purpose of collection of the outstanding rates and charges.
This method of recovery is only enacted once Council has exhausted all other debt collection options and there are no existing hardship supports or payment arrangements in place.
The policy is open for public input to ensure it meets community needs and is fair for everyone.
Community consultation will run from Thursday 27 February to Thursday 20 March.
Leave a comment, let us know your thoughts on the policy below.
Email us, send us your feedback to info@moira.vic.gov.au
Speak to us, call our Customer Service Centre and speak with Council's Revenue Coordinator or Manager of Finance to provide your feedback over the phone. (03) 5871 9222
How can this policy better support our community in managing payments and financial hardship?
Ensuring Fair and Flexible Revenue Collection
Moira Shire Council’s draft Revenue Collection and Financial Hardship Policy aims to balance responsible revenue collection with support for those experiencing financial difficulty. The policy provides clear guidelines on payment options, hardship support, and debt management to ensure fairness and transparency.
Timeline
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Timeline item 1 - active
Community Engagement
Thursday 27 February - Thursday 20 March
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Timeline item 2 - incomplete
Post-consultation review
After feedback is collected, potential revisions may be made before the policy is formally adopted by Council.
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Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Final Document Prepared for Council Meeting
TBC DATE
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Timeline item 4 - incomplete
Scheduled Council Meeting
final adoption of the policy will be considered at a future Scheduled Council meeting following the review of community feedback.
Contact Us
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| Name | Moira Shire Council's Revenue Coordinator |
|---|---|
| Phone | (03) 5871 9222 |
| info@moira.vic.gov.au |
