Amended Revenue & Rating Plan and Revised Budget

An amended Revenue & Rating Plan 2025-29 and 2025/26 Revised Budget was adopted at the Rural City of Wangaratta’s July council meeting on Tuesday, 22 July.

After the Revenue & Rating Plan was endorsed at the May Council Meeting, council officers conducted final checks on the 2025-26 rates. During this process, it was identified that incorrect application of the rate differential definitions concerning rural properties had been applied when setting this year’s rates in the Budget. This would have led to unintended rating outcomes if the rate notices had been distributed.

In the amended Revenue & Rating Plan, the differential category definitions have been updated and expanded, providing a clearer, fairer and more equitable distribution of the rating burden across the different land rating categories. A thorough audit of the rates has also been undertaken.

Consequently, these adjustments also require a revised 2025/26 Budget to declare the revised rates and apply associated administrative updates. The recalculation for 2025/26 shows that 75% of property owners will pay lower rates compared to those endorsed in the Revenue & Rating Plan 2025–29 in May.

Council’s compliance with the State Government rate cap remains unchanged, a 3% increase still being applied in 2025/26.

To view the amended Revenue & Rating Plan 2025-29 and 2025/26 Revised Budget, see the documents tab in the side bar.