8.4%
RATES are set to soar as Magherafelt prepares to merge with Cookstown and Dungannon Councils next year.
Members of Magherafelt Council this week struck a new domestic rate of 0.2541p in the , representing an increase of 8.4 per cent – one of the highest ever by the council.
The new non domestic rate is 20.1292p in the , which is also equivalent to an 8.4 per cent jump.
The estimate allows for an expenditure on council services in South Derry of more than 8.5m in the coming year.
The main increases are closing the Bellaghy dump (299,600), landfill tax (150,000) and staff wages/administration 100,000.
There are also projected losses of 90,000 in Building Control because of the slump in the building industry, and 30,000 in respect of Maghera Leisure Centre.
Debt-free Magherafelt Council has traditionally finished near the bottom of the Province-wide rates table.
And, even with the new increase, it is still expected to finish amongst the bottom four councils.
But with the proposed council merger in May of 2011, councillors’ had to make the difficult decision to phase in a rates increase in order to “cushion” householders from a massive bill next year.
It is believed that Council chiefs recommended a “phased approach towards convergence” as the best way forward.
Both Cookstown and Dungannon Councils rates have been considerably higher than Magherafelt’s in recent years.
Commenting on the background to the increase, Independent Republican Oliver Hughes stressed that for years the council would still be the fourth lowest of the 26 councils.
“All in all the ratepayer should be quite happy with the deal they are getting,” he said.
SDLP councillor Kate Lagan was of the opinion that ratepayers were still getting exceptionally good value for money.
“I know that any increase particularly in the present economic climate will not be welcome, but there were a number of things that had to be done including the rationalisation of the councils,” she said.
DUP vice-chairman Paul McLean said members had carefully scrutinized the figures at meetings over the past two weeks and this was the best deal.
“It’s unfortunate that there has to be an increase,” he said. “However for the size of our council we provide excellent services.”
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Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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