FIJI’S 13 municipal councils carried a combined $209.8million in closing rates arrears over three financial years, highlighting the scale of unpaid municipal rates across the country.
Figures tabled in Parliament by Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa show total closing arrears across the councils amounted to $209,822,356.74 when the figures for 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 are added together.
Over the same three-year period, councils billed $108.3m in annual rates.
The figures show councils collected a combined $78.3m in current rates, while another $23.6m was collected from arrears.
This brought total rates collections, including recoveries from outstanding accounts, to approximately $101.9m over the period.
Mr Nalumisa said the Government continued to place emphasis on strengthening the financial sustainability of municipal councils, particularly through improved rates collection and recovery of outstanding arrears.
“While there have been encouraging improvements in rates collection by several councils, continued efforts are required to strengthen the recovery of outstanding arrears,” he said.
Councils are using reminders, demand notices, telephone and email follow-ups, house-to-house visits and structured payment arrangements to recover unpaid rates.
Where these measures fail, councils can progressively use statutory recovery mechanisms under the Local Government Act 1972.
Mr Nalumisa said effective rates collection was “fundamental to the financial sustainability and service delivery capacity of municipal councils.”
The ministry said it would continue working with councils to strengthen revenue collection systems and improve recovery of outstanding rates.
