Cornered council

The new Emergency Services Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy appearing on recent council rates notices has sparked a wave of discontent among residents of the Mansfield Shire, with community members taking to Facebook to vocalise their opposition. Despite council strongly registering their objection and repeatedly lobbying the state government to abolish the ESVF, all local councils have been mandated to collect the levy on behalf of the state government. Refusing to pay carries serious financial risks like accruing interest and impacting credit ratings, with council forced to act as debt collector. The charge, which replaces the previous Fire Services Property Levy, has been widely described as a "new tax" that increases the financial burden on households and businesses. In discussions across local forums and community groups, the dominant sentiment was a sense frustration at what many see as state government overreach. The levy is seen as an unnecessary tax imposed by the state government, particularly given what is perceived as record state debt and spending on non-essential projects. However though there is widespread anger over the new ESVF charge, the community is also grappling with the difficult choice between protest and compliance. Feeling unjustly burdened, many called for collective action to ensure their voices are heard by those in power with the upcoming 2026 state election seen as the only viable long-term solution, allowing the ballot box to be the decider. Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said adding the charge was a regrettable action that Council has been cornered into taking. “Council unanimously voted against the ESVF in February this year, and since then we have not stopped advocating, lobbying, protesting and campaigning against this charge on behalf of our community,” said Cr Rabie. “This is not a Council charge. "We are required, legally, to collect this tax on behalf of the Victorian Government, even though we strongly oppose it. "We also strongly oppose having to collect this tax for properties on Mt Buller, where Council is not the rating authority. "Unfortunately, we have to hand over the funds for the ESVF quarterly, including any interest accrued, directly to the State Government. “This is a real concern to Council as we know that our community doesn’t want to pay the ESVF. "If people don’t pay it, they won’t be hurting the State Government. "Council still has to pay out of the funds that we would otherwise manage carefully and spend on local services and infrastructure. "On top of that, ratepayers who don’t pay the ESVF will unfortunately find themselves in debt. “We know this is an unfair tax and we have been as loud as we possibly can in opposing the burden it represents to our community. "But our hands are tied. "We are legally required to pay it. "So with rates notices about to be issued, we want to prepare our community for the changes we will all see this year." The ESVF replaces the previous Fire Services Property Levy but represents significant increases for ratepayers. Residential and commercial properties will be hit this year, while a freeze for primary producers will provide temporary relief for those properties for one year. “One of the many challenges in this economic environment where costs are shifted from state government to local government is the different standards that apply," said Cr Rabie. "We consistently manage money carefully and come under the rate cap, which limits the funds local governments can raise for local services and infrastructure. "We consult with our community and listen carefully, acting strategically to spend every dollar wisely and ensure bang for your buck. "Meanwhile, the state government can just slap on a massive hike in costs to our ratepayers like the ESVF without asking, to raise money for services they should be funding themselves. "This puts an unfair pressure on small rural communities like ours. “I'm really worried about the impact on local families. "We’re already doing it tough. "This will be an additional pressure for everyone. “I'm also mindful of our staff who will be fielding questions from residents about these changes. "Please remember that our small team is required by law to collect these charges. "They didn't create this situation, and we all share your concerns about these additional costs. “If you want to take a stand against the ESVF, contact local MPs to demonstrate how the unfair tax impacts you." State legislation requires all payments to Council to be apportioned between Council rates and ESVF. There is no way for community members to pay only the Council portion, even if that is their intention. Ratepayers who don’t pay the full amount are liable for interest payments on uncollected money at the penalty rate set by the State Government (currently 10 per cent). Financial hardship options are available, such as financial counselling and payment plans for those experiencing financial difficulty. CFA and VICSES volunteers and life members may be entitled to a rebate. Find out more on the State Revenue Office website – www.sro.vic.gov.au/emergency-services-and-volunteers-fund.

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