Council Urges Ratepayers To Apply For Rebates

Manukau City Council wants more people to apply for the central government-funded rates rebate to reduce their Manukau city rates bill. To date, more than 2000 successful applications have been lodged with another 600 in process. However, council believes many more people across the city are entitled to receive a rebate but haven’t taken up the opportunity to apply.

Manukau’s second-quarter rates invoices are now arriving in ratepayers’ mailboxes and Manager Financial Policy, Planning and Investments Bob Trautz says this is a good time to apply.

Since the introduction of the revised rebate scheme on 1 July 2006, council has processed more than 3000 applications and handled an additional 7000 inquiries.

"That's the tip of the iceberg," says Mr Trautz.

"We know more people will qualify. It's a case of making the inquiry and taking the few minutes to complete the application.

“Applications can be made any time between now and 30 June 2007 – the end of the financial year. It’s not a difficult process. People can go online and check for themselves whether they qualify. The calculator is simple to use and while people might not qualify for the whole $500 rebate, they might qualify for a partial rebate, depending on their individual circumstances,” Mr Trautz says.

While the maximum rebate is $500, and the income threshold is $20,000, ratepayers earning up to $30,000 or more might also qualify. This is because rebates are calculated on a sliding scale balancing the actual amount of the rate demand against income and the number of dependents the ratepayer has. For example, a ratepayer with three dependants on an income of $30,000 and a rates total of $1850 will still qualify for a partial rebate.

People can check online at www.manukau.govt.nz, or call the Manukau City Council call centre on 262 5104 for more information or to make an application.

ENDS

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