Council representatives were in uproar at last week's NSW Country Mayors Association meeting, after the NSW Government's decision to increase the Emergency Services Levy to plug a $160 million jump in the cost of fire and emergency services.
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However Walcha Council general manager Jack O'Hara said it would not impact on his budget.
"The increase for Walcha is only a couple of thousand dollars, so while it is disappointing we did not get more notice ,it will not cause Walcha too much trouble," he said.
The levy increase followed State legislation passed in November to address a shortfall in workers' compensation, making it easier for firefighters diagnosed with one of 12 specific work-related cancers to access workers compensation entitlements, and was imposed without warning.
Armidale Regional Council's levy increased by 22 per cent, or about $150,000, taking it up to $862,190. The timing could not have been worse as most Local Government organisations already had their draft 2019/20 budgets on public display.
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Armidale Mayor Simon Murray said the levy was discussed at the recent meeting of the New England JO and again at last week's association meeting.
"All councils have had an increase in the levy, and in some cases it was an additional $315,000 that they had to come up with. In our case it's not nearly that much, but it is a significant amount," he said.
It is an extra burden that places severe pressure on Armidale council's budget, and with the official invoice notified to council, payment is expected.
"The issue is that most councils are either developing their budgets or have developed their budgets and set it out for public view," Cr Murray said.
"To put on this imposition when you've done all your planning for next year's budget is wrong. If they had notified uas in July, saying, 'Next year you will have this,' then you can plan around it.
"Yet, any council that wants a special rate increase has to consult with the community, otherwise IPART refuses it. So, how can state government just do this on council with no consultation?"
Cr Murray said the NSW Country Mayors Association had sent its objection to the State Government.
Inverell Mayor Paul Harmon said it was an opportunity for country mayors to voice their concerns and displeasure with the local government Minister Shelley Hancock.
"She's taking it back to Cabinet. So, along with country mayors and also Local Government NSW they're lobbying the Treasurer to reverse this decision of the fire levy," he said.
"NSW Country Mayors Association was recommending to all their councils not to pay that extra fire service levy. This certainly flies in the face of everything the government promotes about councils being responsible, setting their budgets and meeting their Fit For the Future benchmarks.
"This will come from ratepayers. We are asking that it be shown as a separate line item so the ratepayers fully understand that this is a levy that the State Government has implemented and not an additional council fee."
Uralla Shire Council Mayor Michael Pearce thought the levy would not impact his council as much as some of the other Local Government Areas. He said conversation at the association meeting was about how councils and ratepayers were being "double dipped" by charging insurance companies.
"I am pretty sure it this is a per capita levy. So, you've got some of theses big [metropolitan] councils with one or two million residents, so it's a big impost on those councils," he said.
"We needed a bit of a heads up from the government.
"If we have to cut our services because of this increase, we will, but that is something we are going to have to work out during the coming months."
Tenterfield Shire Council's increase was 24 per cent, or just short of $70,000, on last year's levy.
The Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall was contacted for comment.
