The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund — which begins in July and replaces the current Fire Services Property Levy — will sweep up millions of extra dollars through local government.
In Moira Shire, farmers will be facing a 122 per cent increase in the tax; while in Strathbogie Shire, $2 million will be extracted; and in the Rural City of Benalla, $1 million will be levied.
In Campaspe Shire, the levy will take out a total of an extra $4 million annually, a large part of which comes from rural landholders.
In Mitchell Shire, the levy will take an extra $3.8 million from the municipality, with farmers facing a 134 per cent increase.
Rural Councils Victoria estimates the levy will rip $139,025,274 extra from rural communities across the state each year.
The Victorian Government says the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund will help support a broader range of emergency services than the existing Fire Services Property Levy, and for the first time include VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria, the State Control Centre, Forest Fire Management Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria, as well as the Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria.
From July 1, active volunteers and life members of the SES and CFA won’t have to pay the levy on their primary place of residence (such as a house or farm).
But Rural Councils Victoria says the the new fund represents a 150 per cent tax hike on some rural landholders, when compared to the Fire Services Property Levy it is designed to replace.
RCV says there is a complete lack of guarantees regarding how (or where) the new money will be spent.
“This new levy is dreadfully unfair,” RCV chair and Campaspe Shire councillor Rob Amos warned.
“It’s going to smash farm budgets, hurt local businesses and cause job losses in our towns and communities.
“Every extra dollar we send to Spring St is a dollar that can’t be spent in a local business or used to pay an employee.”
Moira Shire Council chief executive officer Matthew Morgan said the ratepayers of Moira Shire will pay an estimated $8.08 million to the Victorian 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.
Projections by Moira Shire Council show that primary producers and owners of commercial vacant land will bear the brunt of the new fund.
Owners of property classified as ‘farm building’ land face a 122.6 per cent increase on average in their state government charges.
Cr Amos said the new levy would hit Victorian farmers the hardest.
“How does that make any sense after years of drought and amid a cost-of-living crisis?”
The government is promising: “Every dollar raised will go towards vital life-saving equipment, vehicles, staff, training for volunteers, community education, and recovery support for when Victorians need it most.”
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