Rural Councils Victoria is taking steps so ratepayers know exactly much the Victorian Government’s unfair Emergency Services Volunteer Fund levy is costing them.
The ESVF is a new Victorian Government tax that councils are being required to collect on its behalf.
RCV has produced a guide rates notice template to help councils clearly show ratepayers which charges are actually Victorian Government requirements.
In the demonstration document — which has been developed with input from individual member councils — a new red box is used to signify Victorian Government-imposed charges. The mock notice also includes words plainly explaining what the ESVF is.
The ESVF is expected to rip tens of millions of dollars out of rural municipalities alone, though the Victorian Government has announced a series of exemptions for drought affected zones.
Individual councils are responsible for the final design of their rates notices.
Attributable to RCV Chair Cr Rob Amos (Campaspe Shire):
“This is a rotten tax that should be scrapped. Rural Councils Victoria will keep pushing for the ESVF’s repeal. In the meantime, we want everybody to know just how much the Victorian Government is slugging them. It’s disappointing the Victorian Government is forcing councils to collect this unjust tax on its behalf.”
Media contact: Ryan Sheales. Email | 0402 351 412
