Revenue Management Association www.RMA.formsexpress.com.au NEWSLETTER

2003 Annual General Meeting Edition Proudly Sponsored by Forms Express

(A Division of Express Promotions Pty Ltd ) Your Best Value Supplier of Rate Notices, Animal Registrations, Business Forms and Special Mailing Requirements. For more information contact Sue Calder on Free Call 1800 808 862. MESSAGE FROM PUZZLE PAGE NEWSLETTER CONTENTS CO-ORDINATOR

Hello and welcome to the last edition of the RMA ➣ President Report newsletter ➣ The Good Ole Days for 2002/2003 year.

➣ Penalty Interest Rate If you have read the Newsletter thoroughly then you may have It's hard to believe we are almost at another AGM. The realized the word “President” is included a number of times in

RMA has once again had fantastic venues fabulous ➣ Rates Push for RSL Clubs sentences which do not make any sense. Has the editor lost the speakers and great friendships made networking with plot or is she being very clever keep reading. ➣ other RMA members. Have a laugh

➣ Become a Committee Member The puzzle this time is to count the words “President” A special President thank you to everyone who has throughout the newsletter and email the amount of “President” helped out with articles for the newsletter remember its ➣ D&B Sports Day words you found your newsletter let us know what you want to see in it. ➣ Membership News email your answer to

This year the AGM will be held at ➣ Rate Impact Statement [email protected] Yarra Valley Country Club on Friday 15th August 2003.

➣ Recipe Page by the 1st August 2003 to win a prize.

Happy Counting. If you have anything you would like placed or to see in ➣ Games / Puzzle page the newsletter please email Vanessa at [email protected] or Kerrie at www.RMA.formsexpress.com.au [email protected]

Vanessa Faulkner

Newsletter Co ordinator

Revenue Management Association. M R S

Municipal Revenue Services

PERMANENT & TEMPORARY STAFF SOLUTIONS www.ozemail.com.au/~mrs

www.RMA.formsexpress.com.au RECIPES OF THE MONTH PRESIDENTS REPORT

Cranberry Meatballs from Margaret Marczuk (serves 4)

Ingredients 500g lean minced beef 2/3 cup stale breadcrumbs 1 egg, lightly beaten1 small onion, finely chopped 2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs Salt and pepper to taste 1 x 275g can whole-berry cranberry sauce When I accepted the nomination for the position of President of the entertaining presentations; and we are indebted to our sponsors for the 1 x 290ml bottle chilli sauce (mild or hot depending on your taste) Revenue Management Association two years ago, I had no idea of the day, Receivables Management Ltd.; M.A.V. Local Government On Line Cooked rice to serve significant changes that would occur in our industry, at both a State Services; Midstate Credit Management; Countrywide Mercantile Credit Sliced spring onion, fresh herbs and a halved lime to garnish and a Local Government level; and the changes that would occur, at a Services Pty. Ltd.; Coles-Myer; and Baycorp Advantage. Method personal level, for so many of our members. • Combine mince, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, herbs and salt and pepper in a large bowl; While on the subject of sponsorship, I am pleased to announce that the mix well. Roll tablespoons of mixture into balls. I have been privileged to serve as President of the Association, and I Executive Committee has determined to continue with the concept of regret that my change of employment will prevent me from continuing having a dinner to acknowledge the invaluable support of our sponsors • Combine sauces in a large pan, bring to a slow boil. Add meatballs; simmer, covered, for about 40 minutes, in the role, because of a conflict with the Association’s Articles of over the past 15 months; and this will be held on Wednesday, 16th. or until sauce thickens and meatballs are cooked through. Association. Having said that, I have been proud to represent the July 2003, for representatives from those sponsors. Association, together with many of the members, on various working • Serve over rice; garnish with sliced spring onions, fresh herbs and a halved lime.I used Maggi Regular Chilli Sauce for this recipe and "Ocean Spray" Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce. parties, discussion groups and review panels established by Our Annual General Meeting on the 15th. August 2003, is the Government Departments and the M.A.V. I have no doubt that the opportunity for members to nominate for election to the Executive Association has made very significant and positive contributions to the Committee, and to become directly involved in the further deliberations of the various bodies. development of the Association, and the formulation of new training, education and promotional activities. I have also been proud to be able to represent the Association at the 2002 Annual General Meeting of the N.S.W. Rating Professionals, in There are a number of initiatives that the current Executive Committee Albury; and the 2003 Annual General Meeting in Newcastle; and to has held over for determination, after the Annual General Meeting, present a paper to the 2003 A.G.M., on the role of Revenue Managers, including the possibility of a one and a half day, or a two day, Country and revenue services in general, in ; prior to amalgamations and Meeting in March, incorporating sporting events, workshops, and an post amalgamations. The participation in those Meetings has quite evening dinner with either a guest speaker or entertainment. significantly increased the awareness of our interstate colleagues of the role of the Association, and its members, in Victoria. The agenda for the 15th. August 2003 Annual General Meeting is quite diverse, and the presentations will contain some real food for The Association has achieved, and continues to have, wide recognition thought. Support your Association and our sponsors, by making a at both State and Local Government levels, as the truly representative and professional body for Revenue Managers in Victoria; and this has special effort to attend the A.G.M.; and please give serious thought to been complemented by the ongoing involvement and participation of nominating for the Executive Committee. private sector organizations and businesses involved with the provision and support of revenue services, through increased Corporate In closing, I would like to place on record my sincere appreciation for membership, and sponsorship. the assistance given to me, as President of the Revenue Management Association, over the past two years, by all of the Executive Committee The Association’s Meeting held on Friday, 14th. March 2003, at members; the individual members of the Association; and by all of the Shepparton, was preceded the evening before by a most enjoyable sponsors of the Association. I have immensely enjoyed the challenges social gathering and bbq in the Lake Victoria gardens. We are indebted and the opportunity to represent the Association. to Wendy Clark from Shepparton, and the members of the Executive Committee, for the arrangements they made for the function. I look forward to welcoming you to our Annual General Meeting.

The Meeting on the Friday was an outstanding success, and a Haydn Williams. F.R.M.A. testament to the support of the members who attended and President. participated. We were treated to some interesting, innovative and THE GOOD OLE DAYS RATES & CHARGES IMPACT Sometime ago Vanessa asked me to write an article for the newsletter. I agreed but didn’t know how hard it was STATEMENT to come up with something to write about. While contemplating different subjects and issues to put my journalistic talents to I realised that it is 30 years since I started in Local Government. My how time flies when you are having fun and what about the changes in those 30 years. Back then I was driving an FB President Holden and going to the Whitehorse Hotel every Thursday night to see Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. In February 2003 a draft Issues and Options paper was released to all Victorian Councils on a “Rates and Charges Impact Statement”. Councils were requested to provide submissions in regards to the content I started at the City of Nunawading in 1973. We had the “slip system” for managing our rates. LASB printed our and intent of the document. The Statement had been developed by a Steering Committee including notices, a different colour for each ward. We kept a slip of each notice in a drawer in assessment number order. representatives of LGPro, MAV, VLGA and the Department of Treasury and Finance. They remained there until the rates were paid and the slip was then transferred to the paid drawer. All the The broad intention of the document is to make Councils more accountable and transparent in information for rate certificates was found in the valuation books and on the slips. Obviously the slips were most important and there was hell to play if they went missing. Our receipting was done on an NCR cash register that developing Rating Strategies. One suggestion in the document is that Councils be required to circulate to was about as big as my car, but at least we had a cash register, some Councils were still hand writing receipts. Our all ratepayers, details of the current Rating Strategy being adopted by Council to levy the current annual change of ownerships were completed in the valuation books as well as on paper tape which was then taken into rates and charges, prior to adoption of the Budget. This would be expensive, would lead to an increase LASB to update the database for rate notices. in public submissions and delay adoption of the Budget and delay the issuing of Rate Notices .The RMA At year end unpaid rates were listed on an accounting machine that was even bigger than the cash register. This was invited to a meeting at the Office of Local Government to discuss the implications of the Rating was a big job because all financial areas for each property had to be listed such as rates, garbage charges, sanitary Impact Statement on practitioners. The RMA was represented by Rod Leith, Terry Everett and Ian Holland charges, arrears, interest etc. and met with Office of Local Government Administration staff on 15 April, 2003. The RMA opposed the requirement to send out personal notification to individual ratepayers. However, it was conceded that a As revenue managers our main goal is and will always be to manage the rating process but the way we go about statement outlining details of Council’s Rating Strategy could be made available as an appendix to the raising, billing and collecting the rates has changed markedly. I find it really interesting to contrast the way we did Budget papers available for inspection as part of advertising the Budget. The Office of Local Government things back then to the way we do things today. Some things have had a profound effect on the way we do business, probably none more so than the introduction of computers in particular the desk top variety. Of course advised on 3 June that the next meeting of the steering committee would be held on 5 June, 2003 and there are a number of other factors that have triggered change in our business practises, however one that is that the RMA’s advice had been taken into account along with submissions from the Councils and would probably never recognised is the growing reliance on partnerships formed with external groups from both the be considered in an amended version of the Rating and Charges Impact Statement. There is no intention public and private sectors. Evidence of the partnerships and the extent to which they affect the daily operation of to introduce the statement until 2004/2005. the Revenue/Rates section of your municipality can be found at any RMA meeting. Agenda’s include presentations from our partners and the meetings are more often than not sponsored by one or more of those partners. Ian Holland

In the “good” old days of the Rate Collector’s Institute we heard presentations from the Rate Collector of the , Bob Merlin on how our in house debt collection should be managed. The legalities etc of issuing summons, dealing with process servers, serving rent demands and liasing with the Sherriff were all issues we had to deal with. Now most of us are happy to hand all that to a collection agent. Forming a strong partnership with our collection agents is necessary to achieve a hasty, sensitive and successful resolution to our debt control problems.

Other partnerships we have formed include those with Printers, Financial Institutions, Australia Post, DHS & Centrelink, the Victorian Electoral Commission, Software suppliers and more. One example of the benefits of our “partnerships” is the recent introduction of EBPP. Although this is an Australia Post product, five councils have been involved in the implementation process along with printer Forms Express. The end result has meant that Local Government is now able to issue rate notices electronically without the expensive set up costs that had been bandied about in the past for other electronic billing products, a win win for all. In the end how we deal with our partners, has a profound effect on our professionalism and the way that we present the image of the Revenue areas of our individual municipalities. We are able to tap into the resources of experts in various fields to provide ratepayers with up to date ways to transact their business with Council Revenue departments. By Russell Hodges MEMBERSHIP NEWS PENALTY INTEREST RATE It’s a Baby Girl, The Attorney-General, Rod Hulls MP, conducts a regular review of the penalty interest rate to ensure that the rate is set at an appropriate level. Congratulations to Dayle from South Gippsland Shire Council who on the 1/5/03 at 10.20am gave birth to a 3.3kg baby girl “Chloe Louise” As a result of the most recent review, the Attorney-General has decided to set the penalty interest rate to 11.25% per annum (the previous rate was 11%). The date of the review of the decision was 21st June 2003, and details are published in the Government Gazette. The penalty interest rate also appears each Monday in the It’s a Baby ……to be continued Age Law List and at all times on the President Department of Justice website (www.justice.vic.gov.au).

Congratulations to Ian Holland and Wife as by the time you read this they will be Grandparents for updates see Please note that this change does not affect the interest rate used to calculate interest on unpaid rates and the proud Grandfather Ian Holland. charges for the financial year ended 30th June 2003. Section 172(2) of the Local Government Act 1989 requires that the interest charged on unpaid rates and charges is calculated using the penalty interest rate which applies On a sad note for those of you who may have known Ken Dearricott on the first day of July immediately before the due date for the payment. The penalty interest rate on the 1 July 2002 was 12.25%. he has passed away. Ken was the former Rating Manager at Berwick Council and a former executive member and fellow of VIRA. Ken then became IT Manager at Berwick before accepting a package when Council amalgamations occurred. He worked from home as an IT Contractor for a number of years. About three years ago, he was enticed back into Local Govt, and worked in the IT Department, at Boroondara. He was diagnosed with lung cancer about one month ago. Unfortunately, the disease was too far advanced for treatment and Ken was moved into Pallative Care immediately. He passed away on Saturday 31st May 2003.

Recent Council RMA Members Movements

RMA MEMBER FROM TO

John Lorkin Port Phillip Council Boroondara Council Martin King KMSG Services Monash Council Mike Pirititis Whittlesea Council Private Enterprise Haydn Williams Bayside Council Port Phillip Council RATES RUSH FOR RSL CLUBS SNAPSHOTS OF THE INAUGURAL D&B/REVENUE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION CORPORATE SPORTS DAY HELD

RSL Clubs with gaming machines could be forced to pay council rates for the first time. Victoria’s 72 RSL clubs cashing FRIDAY 9TH MAY 2003 AT THE WAVERLEY GOLF CLUB. in on gaming or wagering face paying thousands of dollars in rates each year, under council plans. Councils will lobby the State Government to remove a rates exemption from updated local government laws now before Parliament. The move, sparked by Ararat Council, was among motions passed at the Municipal Association of Victoria’s State Council last week. MAV president Brad Matheson said large RSL clubs made millions of dollars each year through pokies and but used rate-payer funds. “This is nothing about the smaller suburban RSL that exists as a club for returned servicemen and other members – It is solely focused on the major money-making machines who are turning over millions of dollars in profit” he said. “It is councils’ view they have an obligation to contribute to infrastructure and assets which they utilise and which are subsidized by ratepayers.” Ararat Council chief executive Bill Braithwaite said the town’s RSL was one of its biggest employers and should pay rates equitable to other companies to comply with national competition policy. RSL chief executive John Deighton declined to comment on the plans until he had received further details. But he said most RSL revnue was poured back into the community. “We are a welfare organisation and (gaming) is just another way to raise revenue for the community”, he said. Councils were divided on the issue at the MAV annual meeting, with some arguing clubs were already generous enough to the community. Traralgon RSL Club, which operated gaming machines, last year took the City of Latrobe to court after the council tried to rate it. The County Court initially found in favour of the council, but its decision was overturned by the Supreme Court. The move to collect cash from RSL clubs comes after the Herald Sun revealed yesterday councils would lobby the Bracks Government to index statutory fees, fines and charges.

Article from page 10 Herald Sun 20.05.03.

John Zukerman Lisa Deppeler Leigh Marescaux These names are familiar to you and you now know…

RCL Mercantile has a long and impressive history, and is pleased ✔ Extensive experience in council work to announce that our 2002 launch into the general mercantile ✔ Sophisticated customised Collection System industry has been extremely successful! ✔ Easy Web Access to your accounts on our system The basis for our success has been our ability to deliver Best ✔ ISO 9001 Quality Accreditation Practise, combined with the provision of personalised customer ✔ Fully tailored service delivery service. The end result is that our clients enjoy unsurpassed results in a comprehensive customised package. Please call and discover how easy it is to change to RCL Utilising the attributes of your colleagues, John, Lisa and Leigh, Mercantile due to the fact that we are experienced in we have an organisation that is a perfect fit for Local understanding your requirements and have a clear competitive Government. We are fully compliant to legislation and privacy, advantage in our unique internet accessible user friendly and offer you: collection system.

John Zukerman Lisa Deppeler Leigh Marescaux 8627 0701 8627 0703 8627 0705 0411 419 926 0407 419 994 ISO 9001 Lic13946 www.recoveriescorp.com.au Standards Australia Dunn and Bradstreet HAVE A PRESIDENT LAUGH - Revenue Management Association Corporate Sports Day. The Inaugural Corporate Sports day was held on Friday 9 May 2003 at the Waverley Golf Club. Killer Biscuits wanted for attempted murder (the actual headline)

Dunn and Bradstreet would like to thank the RMA Committee, Guest speakers and Waverley Gold Club for their Lisa Burnett 23, a resident of San Diego, was visiting her in-laws, and while there went to a nearby supermarket assistance and support in staging the event. to pick up some groceries. Several people noticed her sitting in her car with the windows rolled up and with her eyes close, with both hands behind the back of her head. We would also like to thank the RMA members and Council employees who attended the day and made it such a success. One customer who had been in the store for a while became concerned and walked over to the car. He noticed that Lisa’s eyes were now open, and she looked very strange. He asked her if she was okay and Lisa replied that The day stated with early preparation and a downpour of rain. The rain could not deter the golfers as they were she’d been shot in the back of the head, and had been holding her brains in for over an hour. completely committed to their sport, however the bowlers moved their game inside for a fiercely contested competition and easy access to the bar. The man called the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Lisa refused to remove her hands from her head. When they finally got in, they found that Lisa had a wad of bread dough on Once games were finished we gathered for lunch, guest speakers Andrew Muscat – Department of Human the back of her head. Services, spoke about “Pensioner Verification”. He was followed by our guest speaker Tony Shaw ex. Collingwood player, captain and coach with an inspirational speech. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the heat, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the wad of dough hit her in the back of her head. When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the The Sports day came to a conclusion with an awards ceremony. Guest speaker Tony Shaw presented prizes to 1st, dough and thought it was her brains. She initially passed out, but quickly recovered and tried to hold her brains 2nd and 3rd placed winners for golf, bowls, longest drive and nearest the pin competitions. Thanks to John Jury in for over an hour until someone noticed and came to her aid. from Im-Press Promotions for sponsoring two impressive door prizes. It was a pleasure for Dunn and Bradstreet to organise and sponsor this event for the RMA. The attending members Normal enjoyed the day and have provided overwhelming support for similar events in the future.

The Inaugural sports day for next year President is planned to be a part of the RMA Country Conference . “Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work, driving through traffic in a car that you are still Further details will be available at the Annual General Meeting paying for, in order to get to a job that you need so you can pay for the clothes,….the Car…. and the house – that you leave empty all day so that you can afford to live in it”.

ABC Radio held a competition to finish the sentence “its so dry in that”

• Thieves are siphoning off radiators instead of petrol tanks SPECIALISTS IN DEBT COLLECTION SERVICES FOR COUNCILS • HIH Insurance has come out of liquidation • Now offering Geo-Demographic profiling, as presented to the RMA 14/03/2003 • Largest provider to Local Government in Australia • The Red Cross has launched a wet blanket appeal • Highly experienced personnel • Customised detailed reporting •We’re actually drinking the new Vanilla Coke • RMA Corporate and Individual Members • On-line Access to our Collection System with Training Support •You’re only permitted to eat watermelon between 8pm and 8am • Debtor dignity program

RML offers distinction in the Local Government marketplace, and a commitment to the delivery of • The Government laws introduced a water pistol buy back scheme efficient and effective services to you and your council. To discuss your Council’s requirements, please contact our Local Government Industry Managers: •We are having to hand feed the rocking horse

Carl Jones Brooke Boyd • All the bottom of the harbour tax schemes are re-surfacing Tel: 03 5229 1568 Tel: (03) 9320 2334 Mobile: 0408 402 722 Mobile: 0408 402 774 • I’ve sent my indoor plants out to agistment Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] • All the dogs are marking their territory with chalk HEAD OFFICE RMG House, 363 King Street Melbourne Vic 3000 • Some of the 4WDs in Toorak have actually got dust on them Telephone: 1300 13 5284 Facsimile: (03) 9326 4588 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rmg.com.au Become a Revenue Management Association Committee member

Want to become a Committee Member its as easy as 1,2,3

1. Read the Committee’s Roll below 2. Complete the Nomination form enclosed in the newsletter 3. Contact a current Committee Member for further information

The Committee's Roll

" To Disseminate amongst its members information on all matters affecting or pertaining to the profession of revenue management within Local Government by way of meetings, briefing sessions, conferences, newsletter or any other method available to the Committee".

The Committee is required to show at meetings so you will need to be able to make time from other commitments if at all possible. The first meeting will establish the full meeting dates for the following year these include committee meeting dates and general meetings for all members. So you can set your diary up for the year.

To make the Revenue Management Association a success team work from the committee is a must new ideas are welcomed to improve the success of the RMA so go ahead have your say.

The Committee is made up of the following

.President . Communications / Internet Officer . Vice President . Legal / Publicity Officer .Treasurer . Newsletter Co Ordinator . Secretary . Membership Co Ordinator . Minute Secretary

If you wish to become one of the above Committee Members. If you wish to become one of the above Committee Members. * You must be a Local Government Employee.