Chief executive Barbara Phillips said ratepayers already had three months to pay their rates bill, and it was not fair on ratepayers who did pay on time.
Chief financial officer Stephen Lewis said ratepayers received their rates notices in July when the rates were struck, and then quarterly after that.
Until now, a letter was sent giving late ratepayers seven days to square up before a 10% penalty was applied. If the ratepayer settled the bill within seven days of receipt of the notice council refunded the 10% charge.
Now, a final reminder will be sent two weeks out. All unpaid invoices will now incur a 10% charge that will not be remitted, increasing council revenue by about $80,000.
The rate rise for the next financial year, forecast at 6.6%, takes effect from July 1. — Janna Sherman
