S&CC rebates, grants help lessen burden for residents: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan

Channel NewsAsia, 1 Apr 2014

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said besides service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates, the government also helps to lessen residents' burden through substantial S&CC grants to town councils.

Last year, the S&CC rebates amounted to S$77 million, while the S&CC grants to town councils came up to S$90 million.

Together, those two government assistance schemes, at S$167 million, translate to about 36 per cent of the town councils' operating expenses.



In his latest "Housing Matters" blog, Mr Khaw said that is quite substantial and helps reduce the financial burden on residents.

Mr Khaw notes that Budget 2014 is once again giving S&CC grants and S&CC rebates of S$170 million.

As S&CC rebates offer more help for those living in smaller flats, residents pay 8 per cent to 25 per cent less in S&CC as a result.

Mr Khaw said this is a good and practical way to help Singaporeans with cost of living.

HDB households which qualify will receive a letter this week with details of the rebates they will receive.

Mr Khaw said town councils, which are responsible for managing and maintaining the common property in HDB estates, have to manage their finances prudently to sustain their services.

Town councils fund their operations through the S&CC they collect from residents.

Mr Khaw said periodically, town councils would also have to revise their S&CC to meet residents' expectations, improve service and keep pace with rising costs.

Last year, the town councils' operating expenses were estimated to be about S$470 million.

For the town councils to operate viably, S&CC collections would have to cover those costs.

But to reduce the burden on the residents, the government has been helping the town councils and the residents through S&CC grants to town councils, and S&CC rebates for residents.

800,000 HDB households to get S&CC rebates worth S$80 million
Channel NewsAsia, 1 Apr 2014

Around 800,000 Singaporean HDB households can expect to receive about S$80 million worth of service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates this year.

The S&CC rebates were announced during Budget 2014 to help households cope with increases in cost of living.

In total, each eligible Singaporean household will receive one to three months of S&CC rebates, depending on HDB flat type.

Eligible households will receive a letter in April with more details of the S&CC rebates.

The rebates will be disbursed over the months of April, July and October.