"We are targeting our ratepayers and trying to get that down a bit," he said.
"It sort of does fluctuate up and down unfortunately. It is an area we are trying to look at."
Carterton District Council corporate services manager Marty Sebire said ratepayers owed $624,000 at the end of June last year, although this sits at about $500,000 today.
This was up on previous years, with $261,000 owing at the same time in 2009 and $364,000 in 2010.
"It's probably a reflection of the economic climate," he said.
Although the council had undertaken the same system for collecting rates in that time, they have put some "extra work" in over the past six months.
Mr Sebire said in the coming months, mortgage holders would be approached to make payment arrangements.
"Hopefully that will bring in some more arrears."
Masterton District Council revenue accountant John Wynne said ratepayers only owed $21,459 for the year ending June 2010 - a figure he was more than happy with.
He attributed the low figure to a variety of reasons, including the management of Maori land owned by trusts.
He said unlike other districts, the trustees in the district had managed to lease the land to farmers, which effectively paid the rates.
"Ninety-nine per cent [of land] is leased out to their farming community which is good for whanau," he said.
Mr Wynne said the council also promoted a rates rebate of $580 for those who earned less than $30,000 a year, which property owners were encouraged to take up - leaving most property owners paying about $20 to $30 a week in rates which was "affordable".
"We do a lot of advertising and promoting," he said.
The council also made an extra effort to work out payment options which residents were able to manage.
"When I started six years ago, the debt was very high.
"It's taken a long, hard slog to make people aware they have to be responsible and pay their rates."
