Ratepayers will be slugged rates increases to cover the new fund.
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Owen Sinclair
Ratepayers in Moira Shire will be forced to pay almost $3 million more each year to cover the cost of the Victorian Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.
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From July 1, the ESVF will replace the Fire Services Levy, which Moira Shire Council collects as a levy on rates notices on behalf of the government.
The ESVF will allow the government to support a broader range of emergency services including not only the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria, but also others including the VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria and the State Control Centre.
Council chief executive Matthew Morgan said the ratepayers of Moira Shire would pay an estimated $8.08 million to the government, which will be levied via the council’s annual Valuation and Rates Notice.
“This total amount is $2.8 million more than compared to the previous levies and charges under the previous Fire Services Levy, representing a 51.54 per cent increase overall,” Mr Morgan said.
The new fund will be based on a fixed charge that varies by property type, and a variable rate based on a property’s value.
Projections by council show that primary producers and owners of commercial vacant land will bear the brunt of paying for the new fund.
Owners of property classified as ‘farm building’ land face a 122.6 per cent increase on average in their government charges, while commercial vacant landholders will be hit by a 137.6 per cent rise.
In comparison, residential building properties are estimated to experience a 27.6 per cent increase, on average.
Moira Shire Council chief executive Matthew Morgan.
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Contributed
Mr Morgan said implementation of the ESVF would place further pressure on council’s customer experience and revenue teams to ensure all inquiries were responded to in a timely manner.
“Local governments will likely be inundated with inquiries from those ratepayers experiencing significant increases in their state government levies and charges, due to these being disclosed on the annual Valuation and Rates Notice,” he said.
He added the council would support the sector-wide advocacy efforts of Rural Councils Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria.
Rural Councils Victoria chair Rob Amos warned the new levy would smash farm budgets, hurt local businesses and cause job losses in towns and communities.
“Everybody agrees our emergency services need a boost,” Cr Amos said.
“This new levy will hit Victorian farmers the hardest. How does that make any sense after years of drought and amid a cost-of-living crisis?”
RCV chair and Campaspe Shire councillor Rob Amos.
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Cath Grey
Mr Morgan said council could pursue further advocacy as it commenced consultation with the community on its rating and revenue plan in April.
“Council knows that the state government needs to generate revenue, but feels that they should investigate other ways to raise this money other than further burdening our ratepayers,” he said.
“The state government has other mechanisms for raising revenue.
“It implemented rate-capping on local councils to mitigate the impacts on ratepayers of cost increases to local government service delivery, which are generally in the vicinity of two to three per cent per year, yet they have no hesitation effectively leveraging a 51 per cent increase for their own purposes from our community of ratepayers.”
Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has been contacted for comment.
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