103Rural fire brigade funding target

103 Rural fire brigade funding target

103 Rural fire brigade funding target

(1) Before 31 March in each year or a later date agreed to by the Treasurer, the Minister must—

(a) prepare and, subject to the Treasurer’s agreement, adopt a funding target for the NSW Rural Fire Service for the next financial year (the rural fire brigade funding target), and

(b) prepare and adopt an estimate of the amount of the rural fire brigade funding target for each rural fire district for the next financial year.

(2) The Minister is to calculate the rural fire brigade funding target for the financial year using the following formula—

where—

FTt is the rural fire brigade funding target for the financial year (represented by “t”).

EEt is the estimated rural fire brigade expenditure for the financial year.

AEt-2 is the actual rural fire brigade expenditure for the financial year that commenced 2 years before the period “t” (represented as “t-2”).

EEt-2 is the estimated rural fire brigade expenditure for the financial year that commenced 2 years before the period “t” (represented as “t-2”).

(3) To avoid doubt, if AEt-2−EEt-2 is a negative amount, that amount is subtracted from EEt.

(4) The estimate of rural fire brigade expenditure for a financial year is to be reduced, as necessary, by the amount it is estimated will be paid to the Fund for the financial year (other than from contributions made by the Treasurer).

(5) The actual rural fire brigade expenditure for a financial year is to be reduced, as necessary, by the amount paid to the Fund for the financial year (other than from contributions made by the Treasurer).

(6) Without limiting subsections (4) and (5), the Minister may, with the Treasurer’s agreement, decide that adjustments are not to be made to the rural fire brigade funding target in respect of—

(a) certain money paid into the Fund, or

(b) certain amounts it is estimated will be paid to the NSW Rural Fire Service for the financial year.

(7) In determining the amount of the rural fire brigade funding target for each rural fire district, the Minister may apportion the total estimated expenditure between rural fire districts in the way the Minister thinks fit.