About 18,000 Brimbank property owners are behind on paying their rates bills.
Figures obtained by Star Weekly reveal that Brimbank council is owed $7.1 million in rates arrears, down from $7.9 million in May, 2014.
Corporate and community relations director Helen Morrissey said some ratepayers owed as little as a monthly payment, with financial difficulties, loss of employment and family problems the common reasons given for failing to pay.
Ms Morrissey said the council had taken legal action against 2.8 per cent of those in arrears to recover the money.
“Council issues instalment notices prior to respective due dates and encourages ratepayers who are experiencing difficulties in paying the account to contact council to discuss repayment options,” she said.
“Council monitors all unpaid accounts. It does have a hardship policy and provides various payment options, such as fortnightly and monthly direct debit, to assist residents.”
Pensioners receive a council rebate of $25 and a $208 state government rebate.
Brimbank council slugged ratepayers with a 6.65 per cent rate hike in 2014-15.
A draft rating strategy released last year forecast a six per cent rate rise for the 2015-16 financial year, but Brimbank council would not confirm whether the rise would be implemented.
Meanwhile, state Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins has said councils need to reign in excess and get back to basics before the state government caps rates at the rate of inflation from the 2016-17 financial year.
Ms Hutchins recently lambasted Brimbank council for spending $130,000 on an art installation at the Sunshine bus interchange without consulting residents.
“Councils need to put a stop to over-the-top executive pay rises and needless waste,” she said.
“This is not about cutting staff and services. It’s about encouraging councils to get back to the things that matter to their communities.”
