News

Emergency Services | September 14, 2015

Check your fire services property levy

Ratepayers in the Lowan electorate are being urged to check their rates notices for the actual increase in fire services property levy (FSPL) for the new financial year.

National Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy said FSPL rates were expected to rise due to the Andrews Labor Government’s decision to significantly increase the FSL rate across the state.

“Increases appear to be well above CPI and are a breach of the promise made to all Victorians in the lead up to the 2014 state election by Daniel Andrews to keep increases in state taxes and charges to CPI level or below.”

Ms Kealy said the increase in FSPL by the new Labor Government was a clear “broken promise”.

“Labor’s first budget in May this year showed that the Andrews Government was proposing to increase state wide FSPL collections by a total of 7.2 per cent costing Victorians an additional $42 million,” Ms Kealy said.

“We are seeing increases across the state of more than 10 per cent when residents check their new rates notices.

“Worst of all, the government’s given no explanation as to why these increases are needed.”

Ms Kealy said the previous Coalition Government followed the advice of the Black Saturday Bushfire Royal Commission and changed the FSPL from an insurance-based tax to a fairer, more equitable property based levy to ensure all property owners contributed.

“When the Coalition made this significant change most Victorian home and business owners actually paid a lower FSPL as all property owners paid their fair share,” Ms Kealy said.

“However, in its very first budget, the Andrews Labor Government has put its hand deeper and deeper into the pockets of local ratepayers by massively increasing the FSL.”