A new NSW Government funding model for emergency services could see people paying more.

Georges River Council is encouraging residents and businesses to speak up on the state government's proposed changes on how emergency services in NSW are funded.

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The NSW Government is considering a new funding model for services like Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service, and the NSW State Emergency Service.

Currently, much of the cost to fund these services is included in insurance premiums. This means people who insure their homes or businesses contribute more, while others may contribute less or not at all.

The NSW Government is now proposing to introduce a separate annual charge based on property value.

Georges River Council mayor Elise Borg said the proposed changes might affect how much local households pay. They could also change what businesses pay each year.

"This is an important issue for our community because it could change how emergency services are funded and who pays," Councillor Borg said.

"Under the proposed model, some people in Georges River may end up paying more, due to higher property values in our area."

"It's important that residents and business owners understand what's being proposed and take the opportunity to share their views," she said.

If the changes go ahead, a new annual charge may apply to properties. This charge could appear on council rates notices, although this has not yet been confirmed. The amount would depend on the value of the property.

The NSW Government is considering several options for how the charge could be calculated.

Mayor Borg said community feedback will play an important role in shaping the final decision.

"No final decision has been made, and this is your chance to share your thoughts," she said.

"We encourage everyone to find out more and provide feedback to help ensure the final model is fair for our community."

Community members are encouraged to visit the Parliament NSW submission webpage to give feedback before the 19 June 2026 deadline.

Georges River Council will resist becoming a debt collector for the state government under a new funding model for the Emergency Services Levy.

Instead, collection of the levy should be the sole responsibility of Revenue NSW, the council said.

The Emergency Services Levy supports Fire and Rescue, the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service.

Currently, the levy is paid only by those who take out property insurance.

All mainland states, apart from NSW, have implemented property-based levies to fund their emergency services and the NSW government committed to reforming the NSW Emergency Services Levy along the same lines.

Currently, in NSW these services are funded through a combination of insurance premiums (73 per cent), local councils (about 11 per cent) and NSW government (about 14 per cent).

"From a council perspective, that equates to just over $3 million in this current financial year," Georges River Council mayor Elise Borg said.

"We have no ability to collect additional revenue for that levy so it is literally just absorbed out of our general revenue," she said.

While the council supports the reform, there are concerns how the levy will be collected.

"The proposal that there will be a fixed tiered levy based on land values applied to property owners. So that would vary based on almost how your land tax would operate," Cr Borg said.

"There are concerns that the council may be left to do the rating process on every single lot in the LGA to determine the value.

"Another concern is that the council may be required to collect that levy. It will be listed on our rates charges, so that the community thinks it is a fee that applies to a local government rate when it is actually a state government service. It's got nothing to do with local government. We would literally be the debt collector and passing the money on.

"Council's position is that Revenue NSW should retain the sole responsibility for the administrative, billing, collection and debt recovery of any future broad-based property levy.

"This would make it transparent how these services are funded. At the moment it is hidden in the insurance premiums. It is hidden in the council rates and it isn't really transparent how these services are funded," she said.

In a Mayoral Minute submitted to the May 25 council meeting, Cr Borg asked that Georges River Council make a submission to the Parliamentary Select Committee, which is considering levy funding options, to ensure the funding model of the levy is fairer, more transparent and more equitable across the community.

The council will also encourage the community to make submissions to the Parliamentary Select Committee by the June 19 deadline.

It supports that Revenue NSW take sole responsibility for the administrative, billing collection and debt management of any new broad-based property levy.

And it opposes any funding model that requires local councils to act as the primary collection agency, through the inclusion of the levy on council rate notices, particularly where such arrangements would impose additional administrative costs, resource burdens and cost-shifting pressures on local government.

Cr Borg's Mayoral Minute was unanimously supported by the council.