Cowra Council has lashed out at the NSW Government after they were hit with increases to the Emergency Services Levy without consultation.
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Cowra Council has been hit with a $71,377, or a 24.3 per cent increase on the levy for the 2019/2020 year, covering Fire and Rescue NSW, the SES and RFS.
The levy helps fund reforms to workers' compensation for volunteers and career firefighters suffering from work-related cancers.
Cowra Mayor, Councillor Bill West did not dispute the importance of the levy, but noted the lack of information from the state government.
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"We repeatedly asked the government to consult with us and talk with us before they hit us with these large, unexplained increases," Cr West said.
"It's disappointing that there's not more information being provided other than sending us an email or a letter or a memo that basically says 'guess what, happy news, you can pay it.'"
Cr Bruce Miller said one of the main issues with the increase was the timing, with many councils across NSW having finalised budgets for the upcoming year.
"The worrying fact about all of this is they would make an arbitrary decision at this late stage in the budgeting process without any consultation whatsoever," he said.
"It's scary, this is scary."
Cr Peter Wright said it was reminiscent of 2017, when Premier Gladys Berejiklian shelved plans for a new system to fund fire and emergency services in response to backlash over sharp increases in what some property owners would pay.
"It's certainly not making all levels of government inclusive and working together," Cr Wright said.
The Office of Local Government said the increase would be included in the yearly emergency services levy that councils pay from July 1. The amounts will vary between council areas.
"Councils will be able to pay the levy in quarterly installments which will lessen the impact of the increase," the government agency said in a notice to mayors and council managers.
"The first quarterly instalment is not due until September 30 which provides more time for councils to review their budgets."
