Rates Relief Grants are for non-government and not-for-profit groups or organisations, which serve the social, educational, recreational, cultural and environmental wellbeing of the community. They are not intended for government or government agencies or organisations established directly or indirectly by government and/or to deliver government initiatives, such as Boards of Trustees, Public Health Organisations or similar.
Applications for Rates Relief Grants will not be accepted from organisations that hold betting or gaming licences. These include horse racing (galloping and harness) clubs and greyhound racing societies, and organisations licensed as gaming machine venues.
- The fund is now on ‘hold’ and is no longer accepting any new applications.
- This is to provide time for the DCC’s grants review to take place.
- If you been approved for rates relief, you will still receive your rates relief for the 2024/2025 financial year. There is no need to re-apply.
- Please watch the space for further updates.
- If you have any further questions – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Community Partnerships team.
Organisations can apply for a grant to pay a percentage of their rates payable in accordance with the goals of the Grants Management Policy.
Please note: Rates Relief is for buildings only, not housing or residential buildings/apartments. The classification for a property is taken from the Dunedin City Council rating system.
To be eligible for a rates relief grant a group or organisation must;
- Benefit primarily Dunedin residents
- Make their facility available for wider community use (either through attendance of programmes/services or by hireage)
- Provide verification of their year’s rating obligations
- If an organisation or group is deemed to be fully nonrateable under the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002, then it is ineligible to receive a rates relief grant.
The percentage of rates relief granted per annum will include any non-rateable amount that is applicable to the title and will reflect the contribution the group or organisation makes to Dunedin community residents. Grant amounts may vary between 25%-75% based on the following assessment scale;
| Percentage of grant | |
|---|---|
| 75% grant | essential |
| 65% grant | very important |
| 45% grant | partly important |
| 25% grant | has value |
If the occupier is not the land titleholder, the grant will be calculated on the annual rates portion charged to the applicant organisation.
Groups or organisations are able to apply to the Rates Relief Grants Scheme without it affecting their ability to apply to other Council funding schemes listed under the Grants Policy.
Part year ownerships or rentals will be considered on a pro rata basis.
Applications are made on the generic funding application form and once approved will stand for a three-year period, with grants being paid out annually. On the year of application, grants will be processed and paid to groups within approximately two months, with all grants in the second and third years being paid in August. Groups will need to reapply for a Rates Relief Grant every three years, and will be sent a reminder at least one month prior to their reapplication date.
The Grants Subcommittee has delegated the authority to assess and approve applications to the relevant Community Advisor (e.g. art groups are assessed by the Community Advisor – Arts), who will administer the fund according to the above guidelines. Staff will provide the Grants Subcommittee with an annual report on the administration of the scheme.