LODDON Shire ratepayers could be handing over $5 million a year to the State Government when the new emergency services and volunteers fund is introduced.
Council says it will collect $2.41 million this year, the final year of the fire services levy. The figure includes a basic charge total on properties of just over $1 million and a levy rate of $1.4 million. Deducted pensioner rebates are $48,300.
A decade ago the council collected $1.2 million in 2015-2016 for the State Government with the levy supporting CFA and the former Metropolitan Fire Brigade and later Fire Rescue Victoria following a reorganisation of fire services.
The new levy will generate money for the state’s emergency services - FRV, CFA, SES, Triple Zero Victoria, the State Control Centre and Emergency Recovery Victoria. The fire services levy was 8.7 per cent of property value, the new fund 17.3 per cent.
The State Government says the new fund will also be used for the Emergency Alert Program (automatic emergency warning SMSs), Emergency Management Operational Communication Program and  Forest Fire Management Victoria and its support functions within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
The Government was asked about arrangements for CFA and SES volunteers to claim an exemption from paying the emergency services fund levy  and when  details of the levy will be confirmed with the volunteers and also with local councils who are to collect.
A response had not been received by this week’s Loddon Herald deadline.