Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF)
The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) is a new Victorian Government levy that all councils are required to collect from ratepayers as part your annual rates notice.
This state charge is included on your rates notice – but the levy is not set or kept by local councils. We must pass it directly to the Victorian Government.
It replaces the Fire Services Property Levy and funds a wider range of emergency services, including the CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria, SES, Triple Zero and other agencies.
Like other councils, we're concerned that residents will think that the charge is imposed by Council, and it will feel like a big increase on their Council rates, at a time when people are already facing increased cost-of-living pressures.
We're calling for a fairer and more transparent approach that doesn’t require local councils to collect taxes for the state government and doesn't increase the burden on ratepayers. The Levy for the 2025/26 financial year will consist of:
Fixed component:
- $136 for residential
- $275 for commercial, industrial, and primary production properties
Variable component:
- calculated as a percentage of the capital improved value of a property.
- set by the State Government
For more information on the variable portion of your Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, visit the State Revenue Office’s website or call the State Revenue Office on 1300 819 033.
The Government will fund $50 for concession holders currently qualified for rate rebates. Many properties exempt from rates (places of worship and RSL Clubs, etc) will still have to pay the levy.
The levy will be listed on Council rate notices, collected by Council and paid to the State Government. The levy will not be included in Council’s budgets because it is not Council’s money.
The levy will be based on property value rather than fire risk. Municipalities with high property values but low fire risk are expected to pay more overall. Actual outcomes will vary from property to property.