The variable rate for the Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) will fall for residential properties throughout Victoria in 2016/17.
The residential rate for metropolitan (MFB) Melbourne will come down from 8.6 cents (per $1000 capital improved value) to 5.9 cents, while the CFA area will also fall from 14.4 cents to 12.8 cents.
This means that on average, the residential FSPL for an average house in the MFB area is likely to fall from $160 to $151, while the CFA area is likely to remain the same at $158.
The FSPL variable rate for primary production properties will also decrease.
The previous Coalition Government introduced the Levy in 2012, but set the Levy’s rates too low to fund our firefighters properly.
This error short-changed Victoria’s fire services by $21.8 million in 2014-15. Without any changes, firefighters and families would have been short-changed even further, with the cut set to blow out to $63.3 million in 2015/16.
The Andrews Labor Government has now ensured that our emergency services are properly funded and able to best service Victorians when we need it most.
Fixed charges will remain in line with CPI, as residential charges move from $104 to $105 and non-residential from $210 to $213.
All revenue collected through the Levy goes to supporting the State’s fire services. The FSPL Funds 87.5 per cent of the MFB budget and 77.5 per cent of the CFA budget.
The Labor Government’s election commitment for significant additional support for the fire services is funded through general revenue, not the Levy.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas
“The last Coalition Government botched their Fire Services Levy, short-changed firefighters and put homes and lives at risk.”
“The Andrews Labor Government has now been able to make a fair adjustment, while still ensuring our emergency services are adequately funded and able to best service Victorians when we need it most.”
“We’re giving our firefighters – men and women who do tremendous work in the face of danger – the funding they need to protect Victorian homes and lives.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020