❓ The question seeks to understand the funding allocation methodology from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to local governments. The answer details the Local Government Grants Scheme (LGGS) process for operating and capital grants.
AnsweredQoN 4263Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Please outline the methodology that determines how funding from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services is allocated to each local government?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 November 2018
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services
Response time
9 days
Funding for Bush Fire Brigades (BFB) and State Emergency Service (SES) units is allocated via the Local Government Grants Scheme (LGGS) process where local governments apply for an operating grant and a capital grant for each service. There are two grant categories which are:
1. Capital Grants which include the acquisition of new firefighting appliances, vehicles and buildings; and
2. Operating Grants which fund essential costs such as running vehicles and buildings, protective equipment, volunteer insurance and operational consumables.
Operating Grants determinations
A baseline for the grants scheme was formed when the LGGS was established by gathering information on funding that Local Governments provided BFBs and examining the operating expenditure requirements of SES units.
Operating Grants offers continue to be determined by averaging the previous two years’ completed acquittals and the current year’s allocation. The resultant amount is indexed with the prevailing cost escalation factor as provided by the Department of Treasury.
Capital Grants determinations
LGGS Fleet replacements are offered to Local Governments on the basis of assets reaching their prescribed service life. Local Governments are given the option of accepting the offered replacement or they may request an alternate type with an appropriate level of justification.
Local Governments may request funding allocations for facilities, equipment and additional fleet requirements. Allocations are determined by the respective LGGS Capital Grants Committee based on the amount of residual funding remaining. These applications are assessed against all other state-wide and regional priorities.
Local Governments determine how to allocate and spend their operating grant in consultation with their brigades and/or SES units.
1. Capital Grants which include the acquisition of new firefighting appliances, vehicles and buildings; and
2. Operating Grants which fund essential costs such as running vehicles and buildings, protective equipment, volunteer insurance and operational consumables.
Operating Grants determinations
A baseline for the grants scheme was formed when the LGGS was established by gathering information on funding that Local Governments provided BFBs and examining the operating expenditure requirements of SES units.
Operating Grants offers continue to be determined by averaging the previous two years’ completed acquittals and the current year’s allocation. The resultant amount is indexed with the prevailing cost escalation factor as provided by the Department of Treasury.
Capital Grants determinations
LGGS Fleet replacements are offered to Local Governments on the basis of assets reaching their prescribed service life. Local Governments are given the option of accepting the offered replacement or they may request an alternate type with an appropriate level of justification.
Local Governments may request funding allocations for facilities, equipment and additional fleet requirements. Allocations are determined by the respective LGGS Capital Grants Committee based on the amount of residual funding remaining. These applications are assessed against all other state-wide and regional priorities.
Local Governments determine how to allocate and spend their operating grant in consultation with their brigades and/or SES units.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.