Macedon Ranges council has objected to councils collecting the new Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund Levy, with one councillor declaring the state government had “really misread the room”.
At the May council meeting, councillors voted in support of mayor Dom Bonanno and chief executive officer Bernie O’Sullivan writing to the premier, treasurer, emergency services minister, Macedon MP, opposition leader and shadow treasurer about their opposition to the levy.
In the letter, they will request the levy to be fully administered by the State Revenue Office, with no role for local government in its collection.
If the government proceeds with requiring local government authorities to administer it, they are seeking a realistic timeframe for the implementation to be negotiated, full support for its administration and state funding for an extensive communications campaign to update ratepayers and volunteers about the rationale behind the levy.
Mr O’Sullivan said the new levy will result in a substantial increase for ratepayers.
“Based on council estimates … we expect the new levy to raise an additional $4.8 million from the Macedon Ranges community in 2025-26, compared to the existing Fire Services Property Levy in 2024-25,” he said.
“Of particular concern is the overall change in levy charge to the farming community, which despite a small late change to the variable rate of the levy for primary producers, will still see approximately $3 million coming from the Macedon Ranges farmers towards the new levy in 2025-26.”
Cr Andrew Scanlon said farmers are already suffering.
“I believe the state government has really misread the room and there’s a lot of people out there in the rural regions that are really hurting, including myself,” he said.
Cr Alison Joesph also spoke in support.
“I really support the SES and the volunteers, but I believe the state government is using them to justify this tax grab,” she said.
The motion also includes Cr Bonanno and Mr O’Sullivan to write to all Victorian councils, Rural Councils Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria to seek them to unite as a collective to oppose the collection of the levy.
