HEALTH services and education have topped the wish-list of rural Victorian councils ahead of next month's state budget.
And the agriculture sector is calling for the Department of Primary Industries to be left alone regarding expected cuts.
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Treasurer Kim Wells will hand down the budget on May 1.
A Weekly Times investigation found the biggest budget issues for country Victorians were:
AGRICULTURE funding: The Victorian Farmers Federation has called for front-line DPI staff to be protected amid reports its workforce could be slashed by 20 per cent.
The VFF also called for the Government to fund a new program to replace the Future Farming Strategy.
PORT fees: Exporters fear a new Port of Melbourne licensing fee will be introduced to bolster revenues.
Australian Horticulture Exporters Association spokesman Maxwell Summers said exporters were concerned the fee would "impede their global competitiveness".
MATERNAL and childcare funding: The Municipal Association of Victoria has called for more state funding of the Maternal and Child Health program.
The Municipal Association of Victoria also wants more funding to support the state's kindergarten network and funding for 25 more emergency services fire officers.
FIRE service levy: MAV chairman Bill McArthur said it was "waiting with baited breath for the fire services levy (legislation) to reappear" from the government.
Cr McArthur said the MAV remained "very concerned" that local councils could be nominated as the collectors of the levy.
LIVING costs and promotion: Rural Councils of Victoria are calling for support for rural areas that cannot access natural gas, in the face of rising costs. RCV also calls for funding to promote rural Victoria as a good place to move to.
