Ratepayers in the Waitaki district are among the biggest users of the Government's rates rebates scheme, being paid out $606,448 last financial year.
The scheme helps residential ratepayers who are on low incomes to pay their rates.
Waitaki District Council chief executive, Michael Ross, said in the last financial year, 1249 ratepayers in the district took advantage of the scheme.
The $606,448 in total rebate was a "substantial amount of money" flowing back into the community from the Government and the number receiving it in the Waitaki district was "one of the higher percentages" in New Zealand.
The council has a total of almost 13,500 rateable properties in the district, but these include agriculture, commercial, industrial and others which do not qualify.
Last financial year, each of those who met the criteria received a rebate of $570.
From the beginning of this month, the Government has increased the rebate to $580 and raised the income threshold from $22,340 to $23,240.
