The City is developing a Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029 and is inviting the community to complete a short survey.
The Local Government Act 2020 requires the City to have a Revenue and Rating Plan which needs to be adopted for at least four years after each Council election.
The Revenue and Rating Plan explains how the City will raise funds to provide services, facilities and infrastructure. This includes finding the most appropriate and affordable rates approach for Greater Bendigo's residents and businesses.
The plan includes rates options that are allowed under legislation and are fair and equitable. It also includes principles for decision-making for other income sources such as fees and charges.
Rates and charges make up around two-thirds of the City's income. The plan does not set targets for 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.
Using differential rating allows the City to shift the amount of rates that residents and businesses pay in a way that reflects their capacity to pay. This aims to make rates fairer.
To do this, the City applies a different 'rate in the dollar' for different classes of property.
Director Corporate Performance Jess Howard said community feedback was an important part of the next plan's development.
"The Revenue and Rating Plan is significant because it sets out decisions that Council can make in relation to rating options available to it under the Local Government Act 2020," Ms Howard said.
"The plan takes a four-year approach and explains how Council calculates the revenue needed to fund activities. The City provides many important services and facilities for the community and must collect revenue to cover the cost of providing them.
"The plan aims to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of rates across property owners.
"The community is invited to get involved in a survey on the City's engagement platform Let's Talk Greater Bendigo. Your responses and feedback will help inform a draft Revenue and Rating Plan which will be presented for consideration at the June Council meeting."
The survey is open until 5pm, May 21.
