By Jessica Micallef
Hume ratepayers owed $25.48 million as of December 31 last year, up from $10.01 million owed on December 31, 2019, according to a report tabled at council last week.
More than $13 million is overdue rates from the 2020-21 financial year.
The council introduced a one-time COVID-19 hardship waiver, to the value of $3.1 million, to the 2020-21 council rates, giving residential property owners a $50 waiver.
All property owners had the opportunity to enter “realistic payment plans” in response to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions.
More than 2800 COVID-19 applications were received between April and December last year. Nearly 1400 applications, totalling $2.45 million, are still active.
In the October to December quarter last year, 481 applications for financial hardship were received – 26 per cent of applicants deferred their rates, while 68 per cent have opted for a new payment plan.
Sunbury is in the top five suburbs where residents have opted for an active COVID-19 payment plan, with 171 plans, totalling more than $260,000 in outstanding rates.
Craigieburn had the most amount of active payment arrangements, with 400 arrangements totalling more than $758,000.
More than 170 households in Mickleham took up a plan, in Greenvale there were 148 and Roxburgh Park had 123.
COVID-19 payment arrangements were highest among residential properties, with more than $1.7 million owing to the council.
In March last year, the council placed debt collection activities on hold and will not proceed with further collection proceedings until after March 31.
Ratepayers are encouraged to enter into payment plans or apply for short term deferments of their rates if they are impacted by COVID-19 or are experiencing financial difficulty.
