COUNCILS may decide to cut funds to the local State Emergency Service unit after calls from the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) for the emergency response provider to be self-sufficient.
In their ordinary meeting of council earlier this month, Swan Hill Rural City councillors moved in favour of the motion, which will be voted on in a final meeting of the MAV in May.
The MAV has criticised an agreement made between the Victorian government and member councils in 1989. The agreement saw the state government increase its funding level for each SES unit by $500 to $2500 if this was matched dollar for dollar by local government.
According to the MAV, no allowance was made for annual increments or a “sunset clause” within the agreement.
As a result, the MAV indicated to councils that they were not bound by the agreement following an increase by the state government in 2009 for the SES and that “councils are not expected to match as per the terms of the agreement”.
However, the SES has said it expects Victorian local government bodies, including Swan Hill Rural City Council, to honour the agreement and continue to meet operational costs.
“It is our expectation that local governments match the subsidy paid to volunteer units on a dollar for dollar basis,” SES acting CEO John Casey said.
“SES units have traditionally been dependent on local government for unit accommodation and funding. This was confirmed in an agreement signed by Municipal Association of Victoria and the Victorian State Government in 1989. Our view, along with the Victorian State Government, is that this agreement should be honoured by local governments.”
In its ordinary meeting on April 15, the report tabled by Swan Hill Rural City Council stated its contribution to the local SES unit was $51,500 but later qualified the amount to half that, at $25,800. The remaining $25,700 comes in the form of a grant from the state government.
“At the moment this is simply a motion being put forward for consideration at the MAV state conference in May,” council CEO Dean Miller said.
Mr Miller confirmed council would not remove funds from the local SES unit until a change was made at state level.
For the full story, pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (April 30).
