General News
16 February, 2025
LEVY INEQUITY
By CHRIS EARL MONTHS out from the doubling of a State Government levy, concerns have emerged that Loddon communities are already being short-changed. Investigations by the Loddon Herald found just an estimated 30 per cent of the compulsory fire...
By CHRIS EARL
MONTHS out from the doubling of a State Government levy, concerns have emerged that Loddon communities are already being short-changed.
Investigations by the Loddon Herald found just an estimated 30 per cent of the compulsory fire services levy Loddon Shire is forced to collect has made its back to local brigades in the last decade.
Loddon has handed over almost $15 million to the State Revenue Office in 10 years. Most of the eight new trucks to replace an ageing fleet were delivered more than six years ago and it has been at least five years since any new stations have been built.
The State Government will almost double the hit on property owners to 17.3 per cent of property values from July 1 when the new emergency services and volunteers fund is introduced.
Home owners face an average increase in the levy of $60, for farmers the hit could be in the thousands.
Mayor Dan Straub said: “That’s a lot of money we’re sending off to Melbourne, not coming back to support local volunteer brigades.
“Surely, we’re more than a milking cow for a compulsory State Government levy.”
Powlett Fire Brigade captain Mal Isaac this week questioned the return and support for volunteers. “We are going out putting our lives at risk but could be stung another $1000,” the local farmer and volunteer firie said.
“There’s not much coming back.”
The Country Fire Authority has not answered questions on infrastructure and equipment investment made in Loddon brigades over the last decade.
It did confirm the long-promised new Serpentine station will cost $3.2 million.
CFA active and life members and State Emergency Services volunteers will be exempt from paying the levy on the principal place of residence.
Loddon Shire says the exemption “has generated a lot of enquiries into council but there is currently no information as to how the exemption will be administered”.
Council, required to act as the State Government’s tax collector, includes the current fire services levy on annual rate notices. “Council is awaiting State Government details on the emergency services volunteer fund, but it is currently proposed to be collected via council rate notices and transferred to the State Revenue Office using the same process as the ... fire services levy.”
Cr Gavan Holt flagged concerns council would be blamed for “increased rates” when the next notices were sent to property owners.
Levies collected are transferred to the Government each quarter when “levies held in ‘trust’ by council is reported and paid to the State Revenue Office ... being remitted at the end of March, June, September and December.
“A further annual reconciliation report and audit is undertaken in August each year,” according to a council spokesman.