Winton Shire Council Mayor Gavin Baskett said the ‘pay your rates early competition’ was launched about 10 years ago. 

The names of all of Winton’s ratepayers go into a random draw, with the chance to win $1000. 

Mr Baskett said majority of people pay their rates on time and the competition offered an incentive or reward for doing so. 

He said in 2018, 90 per cent of ratepayers paid their fees before the due date. 

Names were drawn at the council meeting on November 15. 

Unfortunately the first name which was drawn was a ratepayer who had not paid their fees on time. 

Mr Baskett said it’s an initiative which more councils should implement. 

“It rewards people who really make the effort to pay on time,” he said. 

Mr Baskett said the competition was run at a time when a lot of people in Winton are experiencing difficulties. 

“A lot of people are struggling due to the drought and businesses are experiencing downturn,” he said. 

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