RATES notices with thick red boxes have started appearing in Loddon letterbox as the shire council rams home its message that it has been forced to collect the State Government’s controversial new emergency services tax.
The tax is tipped to add up to 25 per cent to the rate bill of residents.
Council’s new design rate notice has its charges highlighted by a green box before itemising “charges council is required to collect for State Government”.
An information brochure distributed with rate notices says: “Council objects to the introduction of the (emergency services) levy in its current form, due to the significant impacts it will have on the shire’s farming, commercial and industrial sectors.
“Council has formally expressed its strong opposition to the (emergency services) levy with council calling on the State Government to immediately repeal the levy for all Victorian ratepayers, including residential, commercial, industrial and primary production land categories.
“Council is legally required to collect this levy on behalf of the State Government. Council does not benefit financially from this levy. All money collected is transferred to the State Revenue Office.”
And in a plea to ratepayers not to withhold the levy component, the shire says: “Council is legally required to collect the levy and pay it to the State Revenue Office.
If you only pay a portion of the total amount due, some of that payment will be paid to the State Government to cover the levy. Council are legislated to charge interest on any overdue unpaid amount.”
Mailing of rate notices across Victoria comes as more protests are planned in opposition to the tax.
The CFA Volunteers Group on Sunday announced a rally for Bendigo on September 14.
Members Loddon brigades who had attended a rally in Melbourne in May say they planned to again voice their concerns at next month’s protest.