All pensioners are eligible for a legislated $250 mandatory annual rebate on their council rates, but three different additional rebate rates have operated since the 2016 council mergers.
The former Auburn City Council’s 2,934 pensioners receive nothing extra, while 5,088 pensioners in the former Holroyd City Council get an extra $15, and 1,450 pensioners in the Woodville ward of the former City of Parramatta Council, who’ve lived in the area for more than five years, receive an extra $100 rebate.
However under a Draft Pensioner Rebate Policy open for public comment until May 11, those receiving the higher rebate will keep it, while new and formerly ineligible pensioners will be offered a $25 annual rebate.
Claiming credit for Parramatta’s move to pay higher rebates in 1988, Councillor Paul Garrard said he believed Cumberland should pursue “a similar track”.
“Senior citizens have given all their life to building communities and I think they do deserve something,” he said.
Although Cr Greg Cummings supported moves to look after seniors “who had been paying taxes all their life”, he argued there “could be other ways” to handle the situation, adding that prior to mergers, the public had “been sold a pup” that larger councils would be better off financially.
“Now somehow we’ve got to dig our way out of this mire,” he said.
Also expressing reservations about the draft policy, Cr Michael Zaiter said it treated pensioners living in the Granville Ward in two different ways.
“I think we need to find a better mid point, where everyone is treated equitably and as equally as possible,” he said.
Rebates apply to property owners with a Centrelink pensioner card, which includes aged and disability pensioners.
Details: haveyoursay.cumberland.nsw.gov.au.
