Council & Politics
28 September, 2026
$1.5 million owed
PYRENEES Shire Council has seen a five-fold increase in unpaid rates and charges since 2022. A report to council revealed the municipality is owed a small fortune by people who have either refused, or are unable to pay their rates.
The report reveals that since 2022, there has been a steady decline in the number of people paying rates and charges to council.
In 2022, $336,381 was outstanding on council’s books which grew to 162% the next again year to $882,363.
The report tabled at last Monday’s meeting of council shows that figure has steadily increased and there is now more than $1.5 million in overdue rates and charges owed to council.
Figures also reveal a gradual decline in the percentage of people paid up with council.
In 2022, 96.4% of ratepayers were up to date with their payments which has dropped to 86.8% this year.
The report suggests there are several factors behind the rise.
The Director of Corporate and Community Services Jacinta Erdody wrote that legislative reforms introduced in 2022 lengthened the timeframe for debt recovery by increasing the emphasis on payment plans for people struggling to pay.
The Victorian Government’s Emergency Service and Volunteers fund is also seen as a factor with Ms Erdody suggesting that the levy has influenced payment behaviour and has contributed to the high outstanding debt for the 2025-26 financial year.
The report also found natural disasters like fire and floods has also impacted the ability of some ratepayers to pay.
As a result of the $1.5 million owed, council says it has reduced operating cash flow, increased administration and debt recovery costs and reduced financial flexibility.
Councillors have asked for a further report detailing proposed action to minimise further increases in gross debt of outstanding rate payments to be presented at October’s meeting.