Sunday 6 December 2009

20% rate discount for old farts from Cairns Council

In one of her first acts of respect for the community, new Chief Executive Officer of the Cairns Regional Council, Lyn Russell is offering a 20% to pensioners.

This is for ratepayers who are not currently receiving a rate subsidy from the State Government. All you need to do is lodge an application with Council.

To qualify, you will need to have one of the following cards:

  • A Queensland “Pensioner Concession Card” issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs;
  • A Queensland “Repatriation Health Card – for all conditions” issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

You must also be the owner or life tenant of the property, within the boundaries of the Cairns Regional Council, whose property is their principal place of residence.

"This 20% subsidy will apply to rates and charges levied for the period from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2010 up to maximum subsidy figure of $90," Lyn Russell says.

However, here's the small print. New applications and those persons currently receiving remissions whose circumstances have altered in the last six months, and persons who have purchased a new property in the last six months need only apply.

All applications must be completed and lodged with the Council in Spence Street, or the Smithfield, Earlville, Babinda, Gordonvale, or the Mossman office before the end of December.

Council says that all pensioners who are deemed eligible for the State Government Subsidy may also be entitled to a Council Pensioner Subsidy.

More info available by telephone on 4044 3044.

2 comments:

KitchenSlut said...

I disagree entirely with this subsidy and where this comes from? Anybody who has had anything to do with the financial circumstances of retirees knows that there is a desperate clamour to get on the pension not for the bit of extra money but for the extra goodies it brings!

This appears to be coming from the new CEO entirely outside any appropriate budgetary process from Council?

Has my respect and support really been shot in just one blow? Yes support is restricted but this is not a good start if properly reported!

The Headless Horseman said...

Lynn Russell has got off to a great start as our new CEO. I look forward to seeing greater things.
Though I wish there was a discount for short, fat, balding, single, middle-aged, alcoholic men.