The NSW Government has today announced the indefinite deferral of the Fire and Emergency Services Levy’s introduction – FESL will now not proceed from 1 July.
• This has immediate and significant implications for all councils.
• July rates notices are now NOT to include any line items for FESL.
• A NSW Government media release on this decision is attached.
Treasury has initiated contact with all software providers, lead councils and print houses to discuss how this policy change will take effect, including the next steps regarding July rates notices. Discussions with these groups will inform more detailed, formal advice to councils on next steps in the coming days.
Treasury will of course honour commitments made to reimburse council reasonable set-up costs.
Treasury will meet shortly with sector representatives via the FESL Local Government Working Group, to discuss in detail the sectoral implications of unwinding FESL implementation.
Treasury acknowledges the tireless efforts that all council staff, and in particular FESL Coordinators, have made to progress the reforms to the point of implementation. The professionalism of the sector has been remarkable, and NSW Treasury is extremely grateful to the sector for the high levels of collaboration shown throughout.
Councils’ own 2017-18 rates notices, which will now exclude FESL, are clearly the number one priority for councils, and Treasury will do everything we can to ensure this is not delayed as a result of discontinuing the FESL reforms.
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