Mayor Stefan Koomen has acknowledged the impact of the ESVF levy, vowing commitment for fairer outcomes and advocacy for Casey residents.
This comes as the CRRA’s vice-president, Anthony Tassone, highlighted the impact that the ESVF, which has recently hit local ratepayers’ bills, has had, labelling it as a “nasty surprise”.
Koomen said that residents have been in touch with him seeking “clarity and support”, and that the recent changes of the ESVF “have had a noticeable impact, especially on landowners with non-residential property”.
He emphasised that the ESVF is not a council-imposed charge, where none of the funds are collected or retained by the council.
“Council acts solely as a collector of this levy, with all funds going directly to and managed by the State Government,” he said.
“This process has placed additional pressure on council resources, and we will continue to work with the state and stakeholders to ensure a smooth implementation within our community.”
The City of Casey has been in constant communication with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), and according to Koomen, thanks to this advocacy, the state government has established a dedicated hotline to assist with ESVF-related enquiries.
While he has encouraged residents to contact the hotline for direct support and additional information, he also added that the levy has placed an unfair burden on Casey residents.
“We believe the increased levy places an unfair financial burden on our residents, many of whom are already facing significant cost-of-living challenges,” he said.
Koomen, speaking for the council and the city itself, said that he appreciates the critical role that emergency services play in keeping the community safe, but remains adamant that the levy’s burden cannot be ignored.
“Council remains committed to advocating for fairer outcomes and will continue to work closely with the state government and MAV to ensure the concerns of the Casey community are heard and addressed,” Koomen said.
The ESVF-dedicated hotline can be reached on 1300 819 033.
This story is developing, and Star News will add more information once it is available.
