Media Release

Tuesday, 10 November 2009

After the announcement from the State Government regarding the 30% Municipal Rate Subsidy (MRS) as part of the 2009 drought package last month, Council would like to remind ratepayers to contact the Rates Department to clarify their eligibility and any supporting documentation requirements before paying their rates.

Council's Customer Service and Revenue Manager Tony Heffer said the MRS was available to farming families in Exceptional Circumstances (EC) declared areas and in order to be eligible for the subsidy, ratepayers must be receiving Emergency Payments (EPs) or Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payments (ECRPs) from Centrelink.

“For those ratepayers who received the subsidy last year, the subsidy is up to a maximum of 30% of the 2009/2010 municipal rates and charges,” he added.

“For those who begin to receive EPs or ECRPs during the current rating year, the subsidy is pro-rata calculated from their entitlement date.”

Application forms for the subsidy are available from Council's Splatt Street offices in Swan Hill and the Herbert Street offices in Robinvale.

“However, we are encouraging our ratepayers to make contact with our staff in the Rates Department to discuss and clarify their eligibility and any supporting documentation requirements before they pay their rates,” Mr Heffer said.

For more information or enquiries regarding the Municipal Rates Subsidy, please call Swan Hill Rural City Council's Rates Department on 5036 2333.