An AVPCC is allocated to each property by the valuer (appointed by Valuer-General Victoria) according to the use of the land – e.g. house, shop, farm.  The land use classification is then used to calculate the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF).  If you disagree with the AVPCC assigned to your property you have a right to lodge an objection within 60 days. Please contact us immediately to discuss your objection, or learn more by visiting Rates Objections.

If you would like to provide feedback on the notice or have suggestions for how we communicate with you about your rates in the future, please contact Rates team.

Rates are calculated by multiplying together two numbers: the rate in the dollar declared by Council in the annual budget and the capital improved value of your property.

To learn more, read our Rates and charges explained page.

The lower population density and larger land area of regional Councils mean that property rates are often higher in regional areas. This means that the distribution of service costs is shared across a smaller number of households in regional areas than is often the case in metropolitan areas. This remains a common challenge for all regional communities.

If you are experiencing difficulty paying your rates by the due date, please contact the Rates team to discuss alternate arrangements. Keeping Council informed of your circumstances may help to avoid incurring additional costs and legal action.

The municipal charge is part of the rates levied by Council and is intended to help distribute some of the administrative costs of running Council in a more equitable way, ensuring that every ratepayer contributes a reasonable amount toward these costs. 

If there were no municipal charge, the rate in the dollar would be higher for everyone.

Learn more about rates and charges.

For the purpose of Council rates and charges, farm land is defined as land which is:

• no less than 2 hectares in area (4.94 acres or 20,000 square metres) and
• used primarily for commercial farming activity (that is, operates as a business seeking to make a profit on a repetitive basis, and has a reasonable prospect of making a profit), and the land is being used for grazing, dairying, raising animals for commercial purposes, growing crops, etc.

To apply for to have your land assessed for reclassification as farm land, your land must meet the above criteria and you must be classified by the Australian Tax Office as a Primary Producer.

If you believe you may be eligible for reclassification, please contact the Rates team to discuss your application.

Land classified as Farm land is subject to a lower rate in the dollar.

Also, if you are operating a single farming enterprise across multiple parcels of land, you may only be required to pay the Emergency  Services and Volunteers Fund fixed charge once and if all your parcels of land are in Latrobe you may only be required to pay one municipal charge. If you believe you may be eligible for an exemption, obtain an exemption application(PDF, 473KB) and return the completed form to Council.

The rate cap applies to the total average rates collected by Councils, not to individual rates notices.

This means that Councils cannot exceed the rate cap in the amount of total revenue they collect. But how much each property owner pays depends on the value of their property.

Therefore, in a revaluation year if your rates increase by more than the advertised rate cap, compared with last year, this is likely because the value of your property increased more than the average property value in the municipality.

Also, the rate cap applies to General Rates, Farm Rates, and the Municipal Charge only, waste charges and the Emergency Services Fund Levy are excluded from the rate cap.

For more information, watch this video or visit https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/our-programs/council-rates-and-charges

The Victorian Government have advised that the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy will fund 90% of Fire Rescue Victoria’s (FRV) budget, and 95% of Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the Victorian State Emergency Service’s (VICSES) budget.

In addition, the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy will fund up to 95% of the following budgets:

• Triple Zero Victoria
• State Control Centre
• Emergency Recovery Victoria
• Emergency Management Victoria
• Emergency Alert Program (automatic emergency warning SMSs)
• Emergency Management Operational Communication Program
• Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and its support functions within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

These entities complement the activities of fire services agencies, including response to flood, storm, and other emergencies together with life-saving equipment and vehicles

• Training for volunteers
• Community education
• Disaster recovery support
• A rolling fleet replacement program for CFA and VICSES

The amount you’re paying towards the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy will be shown as a separate line item on your annual rates notice.

It will include:

• A fixed charge, which is the same for all properties in the same category (e.g. residential, commercial, industrial, primary production etc)
• A variable charge, which is based on your property’s Capital Improved Value (CIV)

Pensioner and Veteran Concession: Holders of Pensioner Concession Cards and Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Cards (Totally and Permanently Incapacitated and War Widow/er) are entitled to a $50 annual concession on the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy for their principal place of residence. Only one concession applies per property per year.

Single Farming Enterprise Exemption: Farmers who own or occupy multiple parcels of farmland used as a single farming enterprise may be eligible to pay the fixed charge only once for the entire enterprise. This exemption applies solely to the fixed charge component of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy, not the variable charge.

Volunteer Rebate: Active volunteers and life members of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) are eligible for a rebate on their Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy liability for their principal place of residence or farm. This rebate acknowledges the vital contributions of emergency service volunteers. For rebate/exemption criteria please visit: www.vic.gov.au/Eligible-Volunteers-Rebate-Scheme

Pensioner and farming exemptions are applied for through your local council, while the volunteer rebate is applied for through the Victorian Government.

Council is required by law to collect the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy on behalf of the Victorian Government. Council has no discretion in this matter, and must pay the amounts collected to the State Government quarterly.

Any payment you make is automatically split across all charges on your rates notice — including general rates, waste charges and the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy. This means you cannot choose to pay some charges and not others.

If the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy portion remains unpaid, it could reduce the amount of rates revenue available to Council to fund local services — things like maintaining shared paths and trails, libraries, community centres, land management, and sporting facilities. Over 70% of Council’s services are funded through rates income.

Unpaid amounts, whether for general rates or the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy, may attract penalty interest and be subject to debt recovery action under the Local Government Act 1989 and the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Act 2012.

If you are considering withholding payment of any part of your rates notice, we strongly recommend seeking independent legal advice first.

You cannot object to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy itself, as it is a mandatory State Government charge. However, you may object to:

• Your property’s Australian Valuation Property Classification Code (AVPCC) – This code determines which category your property falls under (e.g. residential, commercial, primary production) and can impact the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy charge. If you believe your property has been incorrectly classified, you can lodge an objection
• Your property’s valuation – The Capital Improved Value (CIV) is used to calculate the variable portion of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy. If you believe your valuation is too high and your objection is successful, both your general rates and Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy may be reduced

There are other grounds for objection under the Valuation of Land Act 1960. These can be found on the Valuer-General Victoria website:

Objecting to a rating valuation

Instructions and timeframes for lodging an objection will be provided on your 2025/26 rates notice.

If you are having trouble paying your rates, including the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy, please contact Council as soon as possible. We may be able to offer a payment plan, short-term extension, or you may be considered for financial hardship under our Hardship Policy depending on your circumstances.

It's important to get in touch early as ignoring the notice may lead to penalty interest or debt recovery action, which can make things more difficult.

We’re here to help and will work with you to find a suitable arrangement.