Council is calling on the Victorian Government to repeal the Emergency Services and Volunteer Levy from all all farms, businesses, families, households, and properties following a Council resolution at its October Council Meeting.
The move reinforces Council's long-standing opposition to the levy, which is set to significantly increase costs for Mitchell Shire ratepayers. While Council acknowledges the need to fund emergency services, it believes the current structure of the levy is unfair and unsustainable, particularly in a time of rising cost-of-living pressures for families, small businesses and farmers.
Council has consistently raised concerns about the levy since its announcement in May 2025, highlighting the disproportionate burden it places on rural and farming communities. Under the current model, residential ratepayers are expected to see a 35% increase, commercial properties a 70% increase, and primary producers up to 150%, based on capital improved value. Although the State Government announced a one-year pause on levy increases for primary producers, Council believes this does not go far enough. Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said more needs to be done to protect ratepayers from unfair cost increases.
"This is a tax our community cannot afford," Cr Dougall said. "While we support our emergency services, the funding model must be fair. The current levy punishes the very people who are already struggling - particularly our farmers and rural families who are facing drought, inflation and increasing input costs."
"Council should not be used as a tax collector for the State. We're calling for this levy to be removed from households and farmers altogether." Council will write to the Treasurer formally requesting the removal of the levy from primary producers and residential ratepayers. It will also continue to support the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Hume Regional Local Government Network in their advocacy on this matter.
