Illawarra councils have warned ratepayers that they’ll soon be slugged more in their annual rates notices, as the NSW government changes the way it funds fire and emergency services services.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
To be introduced from July 1, the state Fire and Emergency Services Levy will cost an average about $185 a year for residential landowners.
Currently the bulk of the annual funding for Fire and Rescue NSW, the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service is collected through a tax on insurance companies, passed onto customers via higher premiums.
The new system – which is subject to legislation being passed in parliament – will charge all landowners in NSW an annual levy.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery emphasised the new tax was not a rate increase, and said he hoped residents would realise “we had no say in this”.
“We know that people will assume that this is an increase to our rates, but Wollongong City Council will be designing its rates notice so that it’s clear how much people will be paying for the separate levy,” he said.
Cr Bradbery also implored residents to be vigilant in checking their insurance premiums once the levy was in place as, according to the government, these are expected to drop by $233 for those who are fully insured.
Further south, Kiama council will send out letters – along with their next rates installment notice – next week to tell its residents what type of land their properties are on.
“Ratepayers who disagree with their property’s classification can request a review by contacting [the] council,” Kiama’s general manager Michael Forsyth said.
“While Council is responsible for managing the classification of land for the purposes of the FESL, the rate used to calculate the levy is set by the NSW Government.”
According to the bill introduced on March 7, residential landowners and owners of “public benefit land” such as churches and scout halls, will have an annual fixed charge of $100 plus an extra amount calculated on their unimproved land value.
For farms, industrial and commercial landholders the fixed charge will be $200 plus the additional amount.
Land owners will be able to visit the fire services and emergency services levy website to calculate their annual payment from May 1.
- With SMH
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
