The NSW Government will step in with an extra $43 million for NSW councils to help cover their contribution towards the state’s fire and emergency service costs next year.
The Emergency Services Levy is paid by insurance companies and councils, to help fund Emergency Services across NSW.
Recent natural disasters have led to an increase in the levy rate, and the NSW Government is funding the councils’ share so costs are not passed onto ratepayers.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the additional funding is crucial to help councils manage the impacts of recent natural disasters.
“After the severe floods that have affected so much of our State, and the bushfires before that, we all understand the importance of properly funding our emergency services so they’re available when we need them,” Mr Kean said.
“The last thing flood-affected councils need right now is a further drain on their resources, so we will step in this year and cover the increase, just like we did during the pandemic in 2020-21 and 2021-22.”
Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said the NSW Government is keenly aware of the challenges faced by councils over the past few years, and this $43 million will allow them to get on with the job of delivering critical services and infrastructure to their communities.
“I’m proud the NSW Government has again stepped up to provide this additional funding, and we will continue to work with all councils to maintain and support their financial sustainability into the future,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the announcement means council contributions to the Emergency Services Levy can remain unchanged in the 2022-23 financial year, as they have since 2019-20.
“60 local government areas have been impacted by flooding and storms in the last two months and are counting the cost of these natural disasters,” Ms Cooke said.
“Ensuring that council contributions do not increase is one of the many ways the NSW Government is continuing to support the local government sector. Over the last three years the NSW Government has already provided more than $50 million to councils to offset Emergency Services Levy increases.”
The Emergency Services Levy is paid by insurance companies and councils, to help fund Emergency Services across NSW.
Recent natural disasters have led to an increase in the levy rate, and the NSW Government is funding the councils’ share so costs are not passed onto ratepayers.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the additional funding is crucial to help councils manage the impacts of recent natural disasters.
“After the severe floods that have affected so much of our State, and the bushfires before that, we all understand the importance of properly funding our emergency services so they’re available when we need them,” Mr Kean said.
“The last thing flood-affected councils need right now is a further drain on their resources, so we will step in this year and cover the increase, just like we did during the pandemic in 2020-21 and 2021-22.”
Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said the NSW Government is keenly aware of the challenges faced by councils over the past few years, and this $43 million will allow them to get on with the job of delivering critical services and infrastructure to their communities.
“I’m proud the NSW Government has again stepped up to provide this additional funding, and we will continue to work with all councils to maintain and support their financial sustainability into the future,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the announcement means council contributions to the Emergency Services Levy can remain unchanged in the 2022-23 financial year, as they have since 2019-20.
“60 local government areas have been impacted by flooding and storms in the last two months and are counting the cost of these natural disasters,” Ms Cooke said.
“Ensuring that council contributions do not increase is one of the many ways the NSW Government is continuing to support the local government sector. Over the last three years the NSW Government has already provided more than $50 million to councils to offset Emergency Services Levy increases.”