Published on Friday, 23 August 2024 at 12:06:57 PM
Councillors worked hard on the 2024-25 Budget for many months, examining every item of spending to keep Rates as low as possible, and knowing financial difficulties are being experienced by many. The Budget was approved earlier this month, and Rates Notices have been sent out via email for e-Rates and the post for hard copies.
Here’s some information on managing your Rates bill:
Pay in full – by 25 September.
Pay in 4 instalments – first instalment must be paid in full by 25 September. If you wish to pay in these 4 x 2 monthly instalments, make sure you pay the first full amount by this date, or you will miss out on the instalment scheme.
Pensioners and Seniors - may be eligible for a rates rebate. To receive a rebate, a person must hold one or more of the appropriate Pensioner or Seniors cards, and on July 1 of the financial year, own and occupy the residential property as their principal place of residence. Please call the Water Corporation on 1300 659 951 with your concession card details and Water Corporation account number to update your details; then contact our Rates officers.
100 years and older – as a gesture of respect, if a centenarian meets the conditions of the Shire’s Centenarian Waiver of Rates Policy, the GRV or UV portion of their Rates Notice will be completely waived, and only the bin charge, Emergency Services Levy and Waste Rate will be payable – a huge saving.
Financial difficulty – don’t be embarrassed, you’re not alone - contact our friendly Rates officers as soon as possible to put a payment arrangement in place.
Pre payment – don’t forget, you’ve also got the option to set up direct debit pre-payments, spreading the cost over the year and making it easier on your budget. Just $10 or $20 per week will make a dent in your annual Rates bill. Centrepay is also available to eligible pensioners. Centrepay is a free direct bill paying service offered to customers receiving payments from Centrelink. Through Centrepay you can pay bills by having a regular amount deducted from your Centrelink payment, making them more manageable. Speak to Centrelink to set this up.
Information and payment options (mail, phone, in person, etc) are on your Rates form, online here, and you can also contact our helpful Rates officers on 9071 0657 or rates@esperance.wa.gov.au with enquiries.
With your Rates Notice comes the Rates Information Booklet 2024-2025. This Booklet is a mine of useful info - as well as a token for a consecutive seven days FREE access to the gym, pools, fitness classes and spa/sauna at the Bay of Isles Leisure Centre AND a free Esperance Museum entry voucher!
Other great information in the booklet includes why you don’t want to lose your Rates Notice (stick it on the fridge, if you have to replace it there’s a fee), a rundown on what your Rates pay for, the Recycling Collection Calendar and the full run-down on the Early Bird Rates Draw. This is run over five Fridays beginning 30 August as an incentive to get people to pay their Rates early, and help to keep the Rates process efficient for our staff.
Everyone who has paid their rates in full by the close of business two days before each draw is automatically entered into every draw they have paid by, and has a chance to take home some of the $22,000 worth of prizes offered by our 2024 Early Bird Rates Draw Sponsors. So if you’re interested in cash prizes up to $1,300, two return flights to Perth, and vouchers up to $1,200 – grab that Rates Notice and get your payment in!
The Shire thanks our generous Early Bird Rates Draw Sponsors:
- Gold Sponsors - CPC Engineering Esperance, Regional Express, Bay of Isles Leisure Centre
- Silver Sponsors - Lucky Bay Brewing, Ultimate Detailing & Auto Glass, RAC Holiday Parks & Resorts, South East Petroleum, Esperance Communications
- and our Bronze Sponsors for joining us to make this draw epic!
Back to All News