Pensioners in the Armidale Dumaresq Council (ADC) area will have fewer worries this financial year, after a pensioners’ rate relief strategy was adopted by Council at its June meeting.
According to Council’s General Manager Shane Burns, there has been a significant increase in pensioners being unable to meet rate payments or having to go onto payment arrangements over the past financial year.
“This financial stress is probably reflective of the level of pension payments not keeping pace with increases in waste charges, gas charges, electricity charges and insurance,” he said.
Mr Burns explained that the level of pensioner rebates from the State Government had not increased in over two decades.
Mayor Peter Ducat said the ADC was looking to ease some of the pressure on local pensioners.
“Councillors are responding to pensioners’ calls for Council to provide relief to this stress by addressing the long-term problem; rebates are not keeping pace with rates and charges increases,” Mayor Ducat said.
“Council is looking to provide additional $25 rebates in each of the charges for General Rates, Sewer Access Charge, and Water Access Charge, giving a total $75 additional pensioner rebate.”
Taking into account the proposed increases this financial year, the average pensioner should be $25 better off than in 2011/12.
