Council rates and the State Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund
Annual rate and valuation notices have recently been issued to nearly 70,000 properties across the Greater Dandenong community, and many of you may have already received your own notices or will shortly (if you are a ratepayer in your own municipality).
A key change this year is the introduction of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESFV), which replaces the former State Fire Service Property Levy. This is a State Government charge, not a Council-imposed fee, but it will appear on the Council rate notice. Council collects the levy and passes it on to the State Government.
The ESFV is designed to support a broader range of emergency services across Victoria, beyond just fire services. However, it’s important to note that this change comes with a significant increase in the charge. From Greater Dandenong rate payers alone, the ESFV will generate approximately $57 million, up from $35 million last year — a substantial rise that will be felt by property owners across the municipality.
While this highlights the impact on our local community, it’s important to remember that all ratepayers across Victoria’s 79 municipalities are affected. This is a statewide initiative, and the increase will be reflected in rate notices issued throughout the state. If you would like to know more about this levy refer to the State Revenue Office video links below.
- Understanding the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund
- Calculating the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund
End of Financial Year and External Audit
As we reached 30 June which has now come and gone, many of you may have heard the familiar phrase, “Happy End of Financial Year!” While it’s often said with a smile, those of us in Finance know that the end of financial year is just the beginning of an intense and detailed process that continues well into August — with the arrival of our external auditors.
Preliminary discussions with the auditors indicate a positive outcome, with no significant issues raised to date. This reflects Council’s continued commitment to sound financial management, robust internal controls and transparent reporting practices.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all staff across the organisation for your patience and support during this busy period. Your understanding allows the Finance team to focus on the critical work of finalising our Annual Financial and Performance Statements.
Most importantly, I want to extend my thanks to our incredible Finance team. The team effort, dedication and professionalism they demonstrate year after year is truly outstanding. I’d also like to acknowledge the significant contribution of Dani Johnson, Corporate Planning, Renee Peake, Payroll and Arthur Perez, Asset Management whose work is essential to the successful completion of our financial reporting.
This is a true team effort, and I’m so proud of the way we come together to meet these important milestones. Thank you again to everyone involved.
Michelle Hansen, Chief Financial Officer