Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund

The Emergency Services Volunteer Fund is a charge that Council will collect from ratepayers on behalf of the State Government. It replaces the Fire Services Property Levy.

Find out more at the Victorian Department of Treasure and Finance website.

Council is legislated under the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund Act 2012 to collect these fees on behalf of the State Government. Each quarter Council must remit any payments to the State Revenue Office.

The ESVF is substantially higher than the FSPL, with Greater Shepparton ratepayers contributing approximately 50% more in total towards the new ESVF than the current FSPL.

Impact for individual ratepayers will vary based on their property type and valuation. More information is available on the State Governments Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund website.

Ratepayers are encouraged to visit the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund website to learn more.

Like the FSPL, the ESVF will be calculated based on a fixed charge that varies by property type, and a variable charge based on a property’s capital improved value.

The levy is calculated using the following formula:

• Levy = fixed charge + variable charge – concession (if eligible)

The State Government have included provision for additional rebates.

The Pension Rebate that applied to the FSPL will apply to the new ESVF (for eligible pension concession and DVA cardholders). Ratepayers already receiving the Pension Rebate do not need to reapply.

Eligible CFA and VICSES volunteers and life members can receive a rebate for their principal place of residence or farm subject to a limit ($5.0m property valuation or $3,865 in levies). The State Government will administer this process, though Council does not have visibility of the mechanics of this yet, aside from the information on the State Government website.

There is provision for a rebate for drought declared properties. Greater Shepparton is not an eligible municipality as we are not drought declared.

Single Farming Enterprise exemptions will apply the same way they currently do for the FSPL. Farming enterprises that meet the farmland criteria may only have to pay the fixed component of Primary Production ESVF charges for one of those properties. Ratepayers with an existing Single Farming Enterprise exemption do not need to reapply.

Yes – all payments that Council receive from a ratepayer must be applied proportionately across all rates and charges (including FSPL/ESVF, Council Rates and Kerbside Service Charges). Council cannot allow ratepayers to choose which charges to pay for. This is a requirement of the Fire Services Property Levy Act 2012.

No, the ESVF must be levied on the same notice as the annual rates and charges.

The ESVF is included in the quarterly instalment payments. Payment options remain the same and are outlined on Council’s website – including online payments, BPAY, Australia Post Billpay or at Council offices.

Ratepayers can opt in to pay by direct debit, or enter into a payment plan.

Payments for the current balance owing on your rates notice (ie. excluding any arrears, interest or legal fees) are divided proportionally between Council rates and charges and the ESVF. This means that if a ratepayer does not pay the ESVF, it will leave all charges on the account partially unpaid.

If a property owner does not pay their ESVF, Councils are expected to take the same steps to recover outstanding amounts that they would for outstanding Council rates and charges.  This may include charging interest and/or initiating legal action.

Greater Shepparton City Council understands that the increase to the ESVF may contribute to rate shock for some ratepayers.

Council continue to provide existing payment options via payment plans.  If you are unable to make payment by the due date, please contact Council to discuss a suitable payment plan.

These enquiries are treated confidentially, and early communication from you may help to prevent the commencement of costly legal action for recovery of outstanding rates, charges and levies.

Ratepayers can’t object to the levy itself; however ratepayers can review their notice to ensure that their property is correctly classified and valued so the right levy rate is applied.

Each property is allocated an Australian Valuation Property Classification Code (AVPCC) by the Valuer-General Victoria. This code determines which ESVF category applies to the property.

The Capital Improved Value of a property determines the amount of variable charge levied.

Both of these elements can be formally objected to within two months of the date of the Annual Valuation, Rate and Charge Notice and must be submitted on the prescribed form or via the valuer's portal. Information on how to object is contained on a Valuation notice.

More detailed information relating to the implementation of the ESVF is available on the Department of Treasury and Finance website.

There is also a dedicated State Government email address for ESVF enquiries: esvf@dtf.vic.gov.au