City seeks feedback on Revenue and Rating Plan

THE City of Greater Bendigo is developing its Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029 as part of a statutory requirement under the State Government’s Local Government Act 2020.

The Act makes it mandatory for the City to have adopted a strategy that lays out how it will raise funds to provide services, facilities and infrastructure for at least four years after each council election.

This includes finding the most appropriate and affordable rates approach for Greater Bendigo’s residents and businesses. Rates and charges make up around two-thirds of the City’s income.

Greater Bendigo currently has 11 different rating types – known as differential rates – for various classes of property such as general (which covers residential properties), commercial/industrial, farms and vacant land.

Outgoing City corporate performance director Jess Howard said the plan is significant because it sets out decisions that the Council can make in relation to rating options available to it under the Local Government Act.

“(It) takes a four-year approach and explains how Council calculates the revenue needed to fund (its) activities,” she said.

“The City provides many services and facilities for the community and must collect revenue to cover the cost of providing them (and) the plan aims to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of rates across property owners.”

As part of its development, the City is inviting the community to complete a short survey.

“Your responses and feedback will help inform a draft Revenue and Rating Plan which will be presented for consideration at the June Council meeting,” Ms Howard said.

The survey is open until 5pm on Wednesday 21 May and can be completed via the Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo platform.