Rates assistance donation
Eurobodalla Shire Council recognises the value and importance of the role that community groups and organisations play in building vibrant, inclusive and healthy communities. Under section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993 Council can grant financial assistance to these types of organisations for the purpose of exercising its functions.
Each year funds are provided to a number of community groups to partially subsidise the annual rates and charges showing on the rates notice for some registered charities and not-for-profit sporting, social and cultural organisations providing community services or benefits.
The Rates Assistance Donation is a four yearly donation aligning with the Council term. Once your application is approved in the first year, you do not need to apply again for the remaining three years of the Council term. However, applications will open each year for new entities to obtain the donation and would be for the remaining term of Council. New applications would be required every four years to continue to receive the donation.
This page explains the Rates Assistance Donation guidelines.
Key dates
The key dates for this donation round are:
- Applications open: Monday 1 September 2025, 9am
- Applications close: Tuesday 30 September 2025, 11.59pm
- When the donation payment will be applied to rates:
- First year: rates are levied and notices issued in July. If approved by Council, the payment is applied in February, reducing the final two instalments.
- Subsequent years: rates are levied and notices issued in July, with the payment applied to reduce all four instalments.
Guidelines
The objectives of the Rate Assistance Donation are to:
- Support registered charities and not-for-profit organisations by partially subsidising annual rates and charges.
- Assist community groups providing social, cultural, and recreational benefits to the community.
- Reduce financial burdens on eligible organisations, allowing them to focus on delivering community services.
Eligible groups include:
- historical societies
- schools of arts
- Country Women's Associations
- public halls
- pre-school kindergartens
- other community service organisations.
Funds will generally not be provided to groups that:
- have licensed premises
- have significant commercial or surplus income
- are funded by another level of government
- are a church or other religious group.
These matters will be taken into consideration in assessing applications:
- Is the applicant a not-for-profit or community group?
- Has the applicant received funding from other Government sectors or Council?
- What benefit does the applicant provide to the community?
- Proof of rates responsibility (if applicant is not the property owner) eg copy of lease terms.
- Current financial records.
The maximum level of rates subsidy that will be made available is 50% of the annual general rates and charges showing on the rates notice, excluding waste charges.
The payment of the donation granted will be applied to the annual rates and charges in this way:
- First year: rates are levied and notices issued in July. If approved by Council, the payment is applied in February, reducing the final two instalments.
- Subsequent years: rates are levied and notices issued in July, with the payment applied to reduce all four instalments.