The Revenue and Rating Plan (the Plan) is a new requirement of the Local Government Act 2020’s Integrated Strategic Planning and Reporting Framework.

The Plan is for a 4-year ‘block’ period starting on 30 June in the year after each general election and it provides a medium-term plan for how the Council will generate income to deliver on the Council Plan, program and services and capital works commitments over a four-year period.

The Plan defines the revenue and rating ‘envelope’ within which Council proposes to operate and should incorporate consideration of:

• how revenue will be generated through rates on properties (including differential rates [if any] on different property classes)
• fixed service charges that might be applied on services such as waste or recycling
• fees and charges for services and programs – including pricing policies
• developer contributions and other revenue
• revenue generated from use or allocation of Council assets (including the application of discounts and waivers)
• recurrent and non-recurrent operational and capital grants from other levels of government
• entrepreneurial, business, or collaborative activities established to deliver programs or services and generate income or reduce costs.

The Benalla Rural City Council Revenue and Rating Plan 2021-2025 was adopted by the Council at its meeting on 23 June 2021.

The draft Benalla Rural City Council Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029 (refer Appendix 1 - in sidebar) is based on the State Government’s Local Government Revenue and Rating Plan Better Practice Guide, which has been developed to support Victorian councils develop a Revenue and Rating Plan.

The Executive Summary and Recommendations (refer page 5 of Appendix 1) details the proposed recommendations to be implemented over the duration of the 2025-2029 Plan.

The Plan explains how the Council calculates the revenue needed to fund its activities and how the funding burden will be apportioned between ratepayers and other users of Council facilities and services.

The draft Benalla Rural City Council Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029 plan will be displayed on the Council’s website. It is proposed that it be released for community feedback with the proposed 2025/26 Budget. The Plan is required to be adopted by 30 June 2025.