Mildura Rural City Council Mayor Helen Healy says the true financial burden of the Victorian Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy on ratepayers is emerging as residents receive their 2025-26 rates notices.
The ESVF replaces the Victorian Government’s Fire Services Property Levy and is an annual charge imposed by the government on all Victorian properties.
Victorian Councils are bound to collect this levy on behalf of the government, which is reflected on the rates notices Mildura Rural City Council ratepayers are now receiving.
The Victorian Government’s new levy represents a staggering $2.5 million increase in the amount of money Council ratepayers will be forced to pay the government this year.
“As we, along with the majority of regional Victorian Councils predicted, this new levy is a huge impost on our ratepayers, who are seeing an average increase of 25% over what was previously the Fire Services Levy component of their rates notices,” the Mayor said.
“Earlier this year we added our voice to a chorus of opposition to the government’s new levy, arguing it should be paid by taxes rather than hitting our residents with an unfair impost when many are already doing it tough amidst the ongoing escalating cost-of-living crisis.”
Council’s new-look 2025-26 rates notices have been designed to clearly show which component of the final figure residents pay is the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/wallet-empty-poverty-bankrupt-3548021/
