MORE than 3000 rates notices will have to be reissued after Kingston Council undercharged some property owners.
The state government’s new emergency services levy, which will be collected by Victorian councils alongside rates, was the cause of the council bungle. Kingston Council miscalculated its contribution to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund and undercharged thousands of property owners.
Kingston Council’s chief finance officer, Bernard Rohan, said affected property owners had been informed and the issue would be rectified. “We identified an error on some of the rates notices after they were issued, with the State Government’s new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund undercharged on about 3100 notices,” Rohan said.
“This impacted some of the city’s Commercial and Industrial properties, and the Vacant Land, and Primary Production categories. “We have corrected the mistake and reissued these rates notices to show the correct amount payable. We will work with affected ratepayers on the payment arrangements, given the impact of the delay.”
The new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, which replaces the Fire Services Property Levy, has been widely criticised. All Victorian councils are required to collect the money and pass it straight on to the state government.
The fixed component of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund contribution is $136 for residential ratepayers, and $275 for commercial, industrial, and primary production property ratepayers. A variable component is calculated as a percentage of the capital improved value of a property by the state government.
First published in the Frankston Times – 23 September 2025