SA households hit with levy for fires

South Australian households will help cover the cost of fighting January's Adelaide Hills bushfire with the state government increasing the Emergency Services Levy (ESL).

Most households will be hit with a $23 rise in the levy to help bring in an extra $19.8 million next financial year.

The SA government's also ruled out imposing a broad-based land tax on family homes in next month's state budget.

Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis says $7.5 million of the increased levy funds will go towards the cost of fighting the January fire which destroyed 27 homes and burnt through almost 13,000 hectares.

Another $6.7 million will go to pay workers' compensation entitlements to Country Fire Service volunteers and $6 million will be spent on training and new equipment, including a new communications system.

Mr Koutsantonis said no South Australians who watched on television as the brave CFS volunteers fought the January fires would begrudge them extra money for new equipment and training.

"They won't like any increase but they understand why we have this fund," the treasurer said.

Pensioners will be exempt from the rise and country residents will continue to get discounts.

The levy is expected to raise a total of $285.7 million in 2015/16, all of which goes to fund the state's emergency services.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the government should use the extra GST revenue it is set to receive rather than increase the levy.

"South Australians cannot have money ripped out their pockets by the government time and time again," Mr Marshall said.