GBAC responds to Victoria’s ESVF Levy increase, calling for fairness and clarity

The Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils (GBAC) has raised significant concerns over the recent increase in the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy, announced by the Victorian Government on 13 December 2024. GBAC fully supports measures to enhance Victoria’s Emergency Services’ and Volunteers’ capacity to protect communities. However, the alliance argues that the new levy structure will place an undue burden on regional and rural communities, which are already facing financial constraints. 

GBAC represents six local councils across the Ballarat region, including the City of Ballarat and the Central Goldfields, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool and Pyrenees Shires. The alliance represents over 214,000 residents spread across more than 12,000 square kilometres, many of whom are already struggling with rising rates and cost-of-living pressures. 

In a letter to the Victorian Treasurer, signed by the GBAC mayors, the alliance points out that the increase in the ESVF levy will disproportionately affect rural communities. Many areas are already grappling with the economic impacts of drought, recovery from natural disasters and rising input costs for agriculture. GBAC estimates that the levy could increase by as much as 136% for farmers, compounding the financial hardship faced by these residents. 

One of the key issues raised by GBAC is the responsibility placed on local governments to collect the ESVF levy, which will appear on council rates notices. The alliance maintains that this effectively makes councils “debt collectors” for the state, creating confusion for ratepayers and forcing local governments to handle complaints about a state-imposed charge. GBAC has called on the Victorian Government to take responsibility for both the collection and communication of the levy. The alliance also emphasises the need for transparency in how the funds are allocated and a clear communication strategy to ensure ratepayers understand that the levy is a state tax, not a council charge. 

“The proposed system is unfair to our rural communities, and it places an additional administrative burden on local councils,” said Cr Hargreaves, City of Ballarat Mayor and Chair of GBAC. “We are committed to supporting emergency services, but the responsibility for collecting and communicating this levy must rest with the state government, not local councils.” 

GBAC is calling on the Victorian Government to reconsider the impact of the levy increase, ensure fairness in its distribution and lead the way in transparent communication with ratepayers.