People that owe rates can meet municipal council rate collectors and come up with a deduction or payment plan.

Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar says this includes civil servants who have not had a pay cut.

She also says they found out that some people are renting out two flats but they are still not paying their rates.

/+AUDIO-8120546306006691192620ab11db84.mp3+AUDIO/

However Kumar says the rate collection this year has been good.

/+AUDIO-1645303284600669209e1a1bf8b189.mp3+AUDIO/

The Nasinu Town Council has created categories of rate payers based on the amount they owe.

Category A has 2,884 ratepayers who owe rates less than $500.

Category B has 459 ratepayers who owe rates between $501 to $1000 while Category C has 948 ratepayers who owe rates between $1001 to $5000.

In the last 9 months, the Nasinu Town Council managed to reduce the rate arrears by 15% and improve collection from 40% to 58%.