In a report presented to council, as of July 31, a total of $968,000 (not including sundry debtors) was owing from the Boorowa region.

Of that amount, $848,000 was from rates and other charges, while $112,000 was from residential water usage and $8000 from non-residential water usage.

All of the amount owing through rates and other charges were overdue by more than three months, while of the water usage charges, $9000 was overdue by less than a month and $111,000 was overdue by more than three months.

Boorowa's rates and other charges amount accounted for 29 per cent of overdue funds while Harden's made up 30 per cent and Young's 41 per cent.

More local residents are paying their water rates on time compared to other Hilltops towns, with Boorowa's amount owing making up 16 per cent of the total while Harden made up 45 per cent and Young 39 per cent.

In moving the report, Councillor Chris Manchester, said it seemed overdue charges weren't coming down.

"It does concern me right through this report the amount that is overdue three months plus in all three categories reported on here," he said.

"I do note they are in the process of looking for another debt collector, but it seems to be growing or fairly stagnant around that period and doesn't seem to be reducing."

Cr John Horton, who seconded the report, suggested that Director John Hughes may want to look at a system similar to the ACT in encouraging ratepayers to pay on time.

"Has council given any consideration to offering a discount to ratepayers who pay on time?" he asked.

"I know in the ACT the local government there offer an incentive to those who pay on time and I think it's pretty worthwhile."

Director Hughes said council hadn't considered that approach but had recently changed their reporting format.

"I don't believe council has considered that option," he said.

"This month we've introduced a new reporting format where we've shown the quarterly installments and debtors other information in terms of the aging position differently then it was in prior years.

"We've shown it as 30, 60, 90 days overdue to present a more conventional view of a debtors aging on a commercial footing. So that emphasises the position that wasn't perhaps as clear previously."

The report to council indicated that around 90 per cent of rates had already been collected and Mr Hughes said council would be stepping up their efforts to collect overdue amounts.

"Through the more difficult period of COVID-19 we've maintained our collection percentages," he said.

"With the appointment of new agents we will be intensifying and increasing the intensity of our collection if I can put it that way."