Councils look to reverse State cost shifting

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) President, Cr Bill McArthur said the reality of the cap was now hitting home, with some councils reassessing whether they will continue to deliver services that are a State Government responsibility.

"For decades, an increasing range of services have been provided by councils under shared funding agreements with the State. The MAV's data shows that over time, the State's contribution has reduced, stopped completely or not kept pace with costs - leaving ratepayers to foot the bill," Cr McArthur said.

"Many agreements were originally 50:50 funding splits with the State like school crossing supervisors and SES units. Councils have struggled to maintain their own expanding emergency service responsibilities, and for years have voiced concerns about being unable to meet the increasing costs of the SES units.

"As a key Victorian emergency services agency, our SES deserves to be adequately funded in the same way the State funds other emergency services. SES units should not be relying on councils, fundraisers and community goodwill to do such important work protecting our communities.

"The same can be said for school crossing supervisors which began as a joint 50:50 funding split in 1975 but now only has 20 per cent of costs covered by the State, with councils contributing $44 million a year.

"Councils have been caught in a catch 22 for years; increase rates to keep funding these important services as State funding diminishes or face misdirected community anger if they cease.

"Councils know the value of these services - they provide vital community safety and social equity outcomes. However the State's rate cap has flushed out councils’ lowering tolerance to keep asking their communities to pay for some services that should be appropriately funded from the State Budget.

"The delivery of the iconic local government services such as libraries and maternal and child health is not in question, however councils continue to fund these with the help of ratepayers.

"Public libraries are now funded 83 per cent by councils, with the State only providing 17 per cent, creating a funding gap of $73 million annually for councils, despite an original 50:50 agreement. Maternal and child health services are closer to a 40:60 funding split, creating a gap of $13 million for councils in 2015-16.

"While most State fees are increased each July, State-set planning fees have not been indexed consistently since 2000, creating a $12 million gap in 2015/16, which has also fallen to ratepayers to cover the revenue shortfall.

"State cost shifting in excess of $140 million a year onto ratepayers for four services is just the tip of the iceberg. It's simply not sustainable. Keeping rates low for communities is ideal, but only if it doesn't come at the cost of losing vital services due to a lack of State funding.

"The MAV has been chipping away to achieve fairer funding deals for councils for years, but these wins are sensitive to political cycles. We are hopeful we can get these services back to 50:50 arrangements, ensuring communities are not without the services they rely on.

"We're also pursuing this issue with the State and adding to our data set of where the government is under-funding services delivered through local government," Cr McArthur said.

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For further information contact MAV President Cr Bill McArthur on 0437 984 793 or MAV Communications on 9667 5547.