We're inviting you to have your say on the draft 2025–26 Annual Budget, which outlines how Council plans to invest in services, infrastructure and local priorities over the next year. Our documents also include the 2025-26 Fees and Charges Register, the 2025-26 Key Initiatives, and the Draft Revenue and Rating Plan. You can find all of these documents linked below, and we encourage you to read through them before making your submission.

The draft Budget includes a $31.4 million capital works program, a proposed 3 per cent average rate rise (in line with the State Government cap), and updated fees and charges based on projected inflation and increased delivery cost.

Council has also released the draft 2025–26 Key Initiatives, which outline the major projects and actions planned for the year ahead.

Council’s main sources of income are Rates and State Government grants.
Councils Draft budget for 2025-2026 includes revenue of $113.4 million.

Every council collects rates from residents and businesses in its municipality to help fund local infrastructure and services.
Bass Coast Shire Council uses the independently assessed property values as the basis for distributing the rates and charges across the municipality.

The graphic shows the breakdown of how every $100 of rates is allocated across council services and assets.