The NSW government has reversed its decision to charge local councils an increased emergency services levy this year.
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The new levy would have left Yass Valley Council with a budget shortfall of $114,000, which would have directly impacted ratepayers.
Local councils currently pay 11.7 per cent of the budget required by NSW emergency services, but this year the government planned to collect an additional $13.6 million to help volunteer and career firefighters diagnosed with one of 12 work-related cancers.
However, earlier this week, acting Premier John Barilaro and Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock said the 128 NSW councils would not have to pay the hike this financial year.
Yass Valley mayor Rowena Abbey had met with Minister Hancock at the end of June, on behalf of all regional councils in NSW, to request the increase be deferred for at least a year.
Cr Abbey also asked the NSW government to consult with the councils about how the increase would be implemented in the future.
"We have asked the government to work closely with councils as to how this increase in fees is to be implemented in the future, acknowledging the cost to rural ratepayers who are already under pressure with the drought," Cr Abbey said.
"We want it separate to the rate peg so that it is clear to the ratepayers what the additional fee is for: supporting the fire services to assist with cancer and other health conditions."
The NSW government had faced pressure over the levy rise for months, having introduced it after local councils had adopted their budgets for this financial year.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) - the peak body representing councils - warned that councils faced significant and unplanned budget shortfalls.
"Local government strongly supports fairer workers' compensation for paid and volunteer firefighters. In many areas, especially in regional NSW, mayors, councillors and council staff are the core volunteers that make up our state's rural fire brigades," LGNSW president Linda Scott said.
"I welcome the Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister's recognition that this additional, unexpected cost to councils, particularly those in rural and regional areas affected by the drought, would cost communities."
Across the Goulburn electorate, the levy would have cost local councils $500,000 this financial year.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the government acknowledged the additional cost presented some challenges for the local councils.
"We also acknowledge that our local councils had already set their 2019-20 budgets before the invoices for the increased emergency services levy were issued and this has caused some angst.
"That's why the government will provide the councils with funding this financial year to alleviate the immediate pressure on our local councils."
