Macedon Ranges council will join councils across the state in advocacy against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy at the upcoming Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) state council meeting on October 10.
Cr Daniel Young successfully moved the motion at the August 27 council meeting for council to move a motion at MAV state council to address the levy and to seek MAV to advocate on behalf of all councils.
The ESVF levy was introduced by the state government and began in July.
It replaces the Fire Services Property Levy, and is designed to support a broader range of emergency services. It will be collected through councils.
His motion will seek to reaffirm opposition to local governments being used to collect the levy, immediately transfer the collection responsibility to the State Revenue Office, ongoing advocacy and an urgent review of the model.
It also seeks more transparency on the levy, and a formal review of the levy’s impacts within 24 months, with findings to be made public.
“This Emergency Services (and Volunteers Fund) Levy has a significant impact on the community and the issue has been going on for a number of months now,” Cr Young said.
“Often when these issues come up there’s a big uproar. Several months go by, they’re ignored, the people who are affected don’t get their way, they don’t get traction and the issue tends to die off.
“I think it’s very important in these cases to keep the momentum up, it is a responsibility of us representing those ratepayers affected by this levy to keep the momentum on this issue.”
Cr Kate Kendall seconded the motion, and said she was happy to work with Cr Young on it.
“The more the merrier and I hope to see this consolidated into a powerful motion against the levy,” she said.
She said about an additional $5 million will be collected from ratepayers in the shire for this levy.
All six councillors present unanimously supported the motion.
