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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rise in district rates forecast | Rise in district rates forecast |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Ratepayers in some council areas could be paying their local council an extra 10% in their rates bill next year, it has emerged. | Ratepayers in some council areas could be paying their local council an extra 10% in their rates bill next year, it has emerged. |
| The average bill could rise by about £50, as some councils struggle with the deepening recession. | The average bill could rise by about £50, as some councils struggle with the deepening recession. |
| Councils across NI have until 14 February to strike the new district rate in preparation for April bills. | Councils across NI have until 14 February to strike the new district rate in preparation for April bills. |
| Some such as Belfast, Limavady and North Down are forecasting district rate rises of between eight and 10%. | Some such as Belfast, Limavady and North Down are forecasting district rate rises of between eight and 10%. |
| Ray Farley, chairman of the Northern Ireland Fair Rates Campaign, said rate-payers should not have to carry the burden. | |
| "A lot of rate-payers are finding themselves in very, very tough straights at the minute," he said. | |
| "All industry is having to tighten its belt very seriously at the minute. Local councils should be no different than any other industry, they should find what ways they can economise and do it. | |
| "The Executive has frozen the regional rate, so there's no reason why the councils can't do the same." | |
| Alliance councillor Stephen Farry said North Down councillors were working hard to reduce an initial 15% forecast. | Alliance councillor Stephen Farry said North Down councillors were working hard to reduce an initial 15% forecast. |
| Meanwhile, Down District Council is hoping to improve on an 8% forecast. | Meanwhile, Down District Council is hoping to improve on an 8% forecast. |
| Councils have been hit by a range of factors including loss of revenue from Ministry of Defence sites and falling investment income. | Councils have been hit by a range of factors including loss of revenue from Ministry of Defence sites and falling investment income. |
| On the upside, there has been a freeze of the regional rate, which makes up 60% of the rates bill and provides finance for Stormont departments. | On the upside, there has been a freeze of the regional rate, which makes up 60% of the rates bill and provides finance for Stormont departments. |