After months of delays and speculation, some ratepayers are finally receiving their council notices, along with the full brunt of the Emergency Services Levy.
Officer South cattle farmer Simon Beard was surprised to see his rate notice appear in the mail last Monday, with property valuation dropping this year.
“Across Victoria, land prices and valuations have fallen, so we’re in a much better position than we were 12 months ago,” he said.
“Still, compared to my peers, it’s extreme. In East Gippsland, some farmers with the same land size as us pay about $4,000 in rates, while ours sit at just over $20,000.”
While this year’s drought declaration has spared him from the emergency services levy hike, Beard knows the relief will be short-lived.
“The levy is a bit of a non-event for us this year because we’re exempt, but next year it’ll come into play and it’ll be a considerable amount,” he said.
“We’ll go from paying $3,000 in emergency services levies to around $12,000. That’s excessive, and it’s not fair.”
Beard said he was willing to contribute, but not at excessive levels.
“I don’t mind paying my fair share, even a little more to support pensioners or people less fortunate. But we don’t want to be paying excessive amounts,” he said.
It’s not only farmers feeling the strain. Hallam small business owner Mary-Ann Gopher Joiner said rising costs had pushed her and her husband to breaking point.
“Since deliveries from Heyfield stopped, we have no more Victorian hardwood,” she shared at the levy rally in Pakenham.
“At the same time, rents have gone up because of the land tax. We couldn’t even pay our rent this week. The building industry has gone down the tube.”
Other local businesses like Terry’s Pakenham Discount were also hit with an extra $450 emergency services fee.
“I wouldn’t recommend starting a small business, especially in a shopping centre,” store owner
Terry Baldwin said.
“You don’t make any money — 75 per cent fail in the first year, and around 90 per cent after five. It’s tough out there.”
Whether locals can imagine a bright future is uncertain.
“This government is putting people in a state of poverty. We’re meant to be the lucky country and prosper,” Joiner said.
“We’re a new country, not to be oppressed or told, ‘we’re going to add all these taxes’ or ‘you’re not getting a pay rise.’ We are the people and we have to stand up for truth.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s General Manager of Corporate Services, Wayne Mack reassured ratepayers that they have until 15 October to make payment.
“We’re taking a number of proactive steps to inform our ratepayers of the delay and extension using a range of communications channels,” Mack said.
“I also encourage anyone who is experiencing financial hardship or finding it difficult to pay their rates to contact us to discuss their options. We thank our ratepayers for their patience and understanding.”
Local agricultural expert Dr Mary Cole and her husband Alan OAM, said whether rates arrive early or late, the levy would cause lasting damage.
“This tax collection will be causing many staff and councillors stress in imposing more taxes on an already fragile farming community,” they said.
“I think it is simply that the regional councillors are very aware of the impact that this tax will cause to farming communities. It is these very same farmers and communities who volunteer without being asked when needed in flood, fires and land caring.”
Shadow Minister for Local Government Bev McArthur MP said this multi-billion dollar tax was “always” going to make life tougher for hard working Victorian tax payers, especially for commercial businesses and drought stricken farmers.
“Now that the rate notices are landing, people are feeling the real hip-pocket pain. The anger in the community, especially among farmers is palpable, and it’s clear Victorians simply do not want another tax,” MP McArthur said.
“Instead of punishing people with more taxes, the government should be tackling the real problems of overspending, appalling project management, an ever-expanding public service unable to deliver measurable positive outcomes for all Victorians.
“A unique coalition of local government councillors, farmers, volunteer firefighters, and FRV professional firefighters has galvanised opposition.”
