No relief for farms in revamp of fire service property levies
Country businesses will save money in the wake of the Andrews Government’s fire levy reforms, but not farmers. See the changes.
FARMERS have missed out on any savings from the Andrews Government’s decision to create a consistent, statewide Fire Services Property Levies from July 1.
Treasurer Tim Pallas released the new FSPL rates over the weekend, delivering FSPL savings to commercial and industrial businesses in regional Victoria, while those in the city pay more.
Households in the CFA zone stand to save a few dollars, while most regional commercial and industrial property owners will see their FSPL bills slashed by hundreds.
A commercial business with $5 million of property in the CFA zone will save $916 a year, as their FSPL bill drops from $4201 to $3285.
But farmers will pay the same FSPL rate in 2020-21 as they did this financial year — 19c per $1000 of their property’s capital improved value.
The only change is the fixed charge, which will rise by $4, from $226 to $230.
However a surge in rural property values, of 20-30 per cent across much of Victoria’s west, will push the actual FSPL farmers pay well beyond 2019-20 levels, to help fund the CFA in which many already volunteer.
But the news is not so good for metropolitan Melbourne businesses and industrial operations, which face some hefty rises in their FSPL contributions.
A small industrial business in Melbourne, with $5 million of property, will see its FSPL bill rise by $574 on July 1, from $4051 to $4625.
Mr Pallas’ media statement estimated the new consistent statewide levy would mean the majority of regional Victorian property owners would pay less in 2020-21.
“The total FSPL levy charge will remain around $150 for a typical metropolitan residence, while a family home in regional Victoria will see a small fall in the FSPL, from around $141 to $137,” the statement read.
“Non-residential properties in the old MFB area will see a modest increase in the levy — with an extra $1 per week for a typical small business, through to around an extra $15.50 per week for a $10 million commercial property.
The FSPL is used to fund Victoria’s fire services.
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