Baddaginnie Fire Brigade Captain Geoff Patterson said one big complaint from his brigade was the terminology being used.
“Members are upset for a lot of reasons, some being the name of this tax,” he said.
“Calling it a volunteer fund is very misleading and is basically using the good name that the CFA has in the community to make it seem okay to increase what we pay.”
He said the fact that farmers will be hit hardest when they were the backbone of the CFA, during a drought, is unacceptable.
And while the Victorian Government has given a temporary reprieve, holding rates at current levels for all primary production properties for 12 months, Mr Patterson said it was not enough, and questions if it will even happen.
“Telling us farmers will be exempt from this tax, but not being able to tell us how, who or when. It doesn’t instil much belief that this will happen.”
Mr Patterson said despite the fact that the ESVF would see rates for domestic properties, businesses and farmers increase substantially, Baddaginnie CFA will not change the way it supports the community.
“This is going to bring approximately $750 million for the government, with only an incredibly small amount going back to emergency and volunteer services,” he said.
“The majority will go into the state government's bank account, unlikely to be seen again.”
Baddaginnie CFA was one of many in Benalla Rural City and across Victoria who attended rallies in Melbourne, protesting the introduction of the ESVF.
“I’d like to thank the brigade members who attended both rallies and took Tanker 2 down for the second rally,” Mr Patterson said.
“I am proud of the way you conducted yourselves and represented the brigade.”
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