Fire services levy rates to fall from 1 July

East Gippsland residents, businesses and farmers are benefitting from the Victorian Coalition Government’s slashing of Fire Services Levy rates from 1 July, Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull said today.

Mr Bull said that under the Coalition Government’s reforms,  the average Fire Services Property Levy payable in East Gippsland Shire for an average residential property would be around $131. This is $105 less than the average under the old insurance based levy.

“Good financial management means that we can reduce the levy rates from 1 July 2014, while increasing funding to our fire services,” Mr Bull said.

Under the rates which apply from 1 July 2014, the average business in the CFA area will see their levy reduced by $1,141, and the average farmer will see their levy drop by $323 when compared to the old insurance-based levy.

 “Eligible pensioners and veterans will continue to benefit from the $50 concession, easing cost of living pressures in our local community,” Mr Bull said.

The Black Saturday Bushfires Royal Commission recommended we move away from the unfair, insurance based levy - which charged only those who chose to be insured - and move to a fairer, property based levy.

“The Victorian Coalition Government has abolished the unfair insurance based levy and moved to a fairer way to fund our fire services,” Mr Bull said.

The 2014-15 Budget for the CFA is $457 million, $58 million more than the last Labor Budget.  

The 2014-15 Budget for MFB is $326 million, $39 million more than the last Labor Budget.

“I am pleased that the Coalition Government’s strong financial management means that our fire services are better funded than ever before, while the cost for average households is falling”.