At its meeting on Tuesday, October 21, council made a point of raising the figure before the first instalment was due for payment to the State Revenue Office next week.
Council introduced a motion that called on the Victorian Government to urgently repeal the fund, and to reinstate the Fire Services Property Levy, which it replaced.
The motion also urged the government to extend partial levy rebates for primary producers beyond next financial year due to economic pressures in rural areas.
Cr Tony Marwood said the levy’s outsized effect on farmers was a moral failure.
“Cr Weston, Cr Zobek and myself — like thousands of farmers across this state — every night, without fail, put food on your plate,” he said.
“What I find so difficult to understand here is why you would punish the people who do that for you disproportionately, unfairly and unjustly.
“One message I have for the state government: if you think this is going to go away and die, you are badly mistaken.”
All councillors present at the meeting spoke in favour of the motion, and Mayor Daniel Mackrell said council would continue listening to residents’ concerns about the levy and advocate on their behalf.
Council is required to raise the levy for remittance to the government, and is pressing for the State Revenue Office to collect the funds directly.
Cr Adrian Weston said a significant number of ratepayers had told him they planned to withhold payment of the levy, which he found concerning.
“That really worries me, the potential risk that presents to council, given that council will have to contribute the levy, pro rata, of whatever is collected,” he said.
Cr Zoe Cook reiterated Cr Weston’s concerns, reminding residents that council was obligated to pay part of the levy’s bill if they chose to withhold payment in protest.
“It’s just an impact, at the end of the day, on not only our financial budget, but potentially on individual ratepayer’s budgets,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Jessica Mitchell said she was “so disappointed” council had to continue fighting the levy amid a cost-of-living crisis, and highlighted the financial stress it placed on struggling residents.
“They’ve been hit by this, and their voices are not being heard,” she said.
“It’s just really clear they’re not listening to rural and regional communities and the impact that it’s having.”
The levy will continue being collected in coming months, with the final instalment due in April next year.
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