TAMWORTH Regional ratepayers will soon have to pay an emergency services property levy alongside their usual rates.
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Coming into effect from July 1, 2017, council will implement the levy to raise and collect funds on behalf of the state government.
The NSW government abolished the emergency services levy payable in insurance policies to create a “fairer system”.
In a statement, the NSW government anticipated “the vast majority of insured residential property owners will be better off under the ESPL, with the average insured property owner saving around $40 per year.”
Tamworth mayor Col Murray said the change aimed to deliver a fairer system for a service that is critical to the needs of communities, particularly in regional areas.
“Not all properties are insured, so rather than insurance holders supporting the entire levy, the new system focuses on property owners,” he said.
“For ratepayers in the Tamworth region, this means that in your rates notice you will see an Emergency Services Property Levy charge, payable at the same time as your rates.
“Council is required to collect this on behalf of the state government from July 1, 2017.”
