25 June 2026
Financial sustainability
The 2026-27 NSW Budget will invest:
Rural Fire Service (RFS) Red Fleets
LGNSW welcomes the NSW Government’s commitment of $470.1 million over 10 years for the transfer of ownership and management of the RFS red fleet from councils to the NSW Government from 1 July 2027, a significant achievement following years of sustained advocacy.
Emergency Services Levy
Council Contributions are budgeted to increase from $239 million in 2025-26 to $264 million in 2026-27, an increase of more than 10%. While the cost of the increase to councils will be largely recovered through individual adjustments to the rate peg for each council, it is still a cost to ratepayers that will have to be collected by councils.
Pensioner Rate Rebates
Funding for Pensioner Rate Rebates has remained virtually unchanged at current levels with $79 million allocated for the 2026-27 budget.