Mildura 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 this week.
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.
"Unfortunately those calls fell on deaf ears and we're now seeing the damaging impact of the government's decision on our residents.
"Despite the realities we're seeing on 2025-26 rates notices, we'll continue to advocate strongly for the Victorian Government to abolish this damaging financial impost on our ratepayers.
"This includes building on the advocacy work already started through our membership on the Murray River Group of Councils, Regional Cities Victoria and Municipal Association of Australia.
"We're certainly not going to rest until we've exhausted all opportunities to have this unfair financial burden on our ratepayers addressed."
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.
