City of Coffs Harbour Council has announced it will apply discounts to special rates and annual charges for eligible pensioners in the new financial year.
At its meeting yesterday, the Council resolved to voluntarily offer additional rebates to qualifying age pensioners in 2025-26.
“This will bring a saving for pensioners on average of more than $100,” Mayor Nikki Williams said.
“The total cost to the City of the voluntary rebates is budgeted at $668,000.”
The City has been providing voluntary rebates since 1997 – with Council voting each year whether to continue the assistance.
The voluntary rebates are over and above a mandatory rate rebate provided to eligible pensioners as stipulated by the NSW Government (the State reimburses the City to the equivalent of 55% of the cost of the mandatory rebate).
“This will leave the City bearing a cost of approximately $1.07 million for the mandatory rebates,” said Council Acting General Manager, Andrew Beswick.
When added to the cost of voluntary rebates, the total cost to Council for 2025/26 will be approximately $1.74 million.
The Council applies voluntary pension rebates to eligible pensioners in respect of the Special Rate – Environmental and Domestic Waste Charges. Eligible pensioners could save on average $27.30 per annum on the Special Rate – Environmental and $87.50 on the Domestic Waste Charge.
The voluntary rebate is not extended to pensioners with five years of outstanding rates and charges, and where no attempts have been made to establish a suitable payment arrangement or maintain payments against the arrears, the Council said.
At yesterday’s meeting, Council also resolved to set its rates and annual charges for 2025-26. These include an increase of 4.6% to the Ordinary Rate structure, comprising the 4.0% rate peg and the additional population factor of 0.6% provided by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
“Rates and charges help to generate the necessary income to support the City’s 2025/26 budget and contribute to our long-term financial sustainability objectives,” Mr Beswick said.
