THE report in the News headed ‘Rates set to rise by $62’ actually understates the the full impact of changes in Government Budget policies on Casey ratepayers.
The recent State Government Budget included a substantial increase in the Fire Services Property Levy. The FSPL is collected by our councils and included in our Rates and Evaluation Notice.
The State Government is shifting responsibility for financing the CFA/MFA budgets onto rate- payers.
Despite the fact the it budgeted for a billion dollar budget surplus and that interest rates are now at an all-time low.
When the Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas was in opposition he said the FSPL was a “botched” tax that needed to be reviewed. Now he is in Government he has increased this botched tax and imposed it on all ratepayer’s despite its discriminatory impact on property owners.
The least Casey Council could do is inform ratepayers of any variations in taxes which it collects for the Victorian Government through its Draft Budget Plan.
All businesses are required to inform the public of the amount of GST tax it collects for government. But it seems that councils think it is not their responsibility to make the FSPL fully transparent until we receive our Rates and Valuation Notice.
In view of the fact that Casey Council is owed millions of dollars in unpaid rates, ignoring the FSPL and its impact on ratepayers is not really helpful for those ratepayers on a tight budget or for businesses and large landowners who will be hit hard by the FSPL.
John Glazebrook,
Endeavour Hills
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