The new tourist information office in Enniskillen,
partly funded by ratepayers’ money
THE Herald can reveal that over the past six years, rates for residents in Fermanagh have increased by almost 15%. Since 2013, rates for house owners in Fermanagh have increased by 14.95%, resulting in an annual increase of 2.5% in the rates bill.
It is thought that this rate of increase far outstrips average wage increases in Fermanagh which statistically has almong the lowest income levels in the UK.
Meanwhile, qualified nurses have seen only a 1% rise in wages since 2013. From 2013 until 2016 a new nurse was paid £14,294 until the 1% pay rise in 2017, when their salary rose to £14,437.
Wages have been even more suppressed in the private sector, with many people not experiencing a significant pay rise over the duration of the recession.
At a special Council meeting last Thursday, the 3% rise in the price of rates was confirmed for 2018/19 with the council describing it as ‘an inflationary District Rate increase.’
The domestic District Rate which is paid by residents for 2018/19 is 0.3488p – a rise of 3%.
This represents an increase of £0.93 per month, an extra £11.16 per year.
The non-domestic District Rate which paid by businesses is 21.3348p, also a rise of 3%.
This represents an increase of £8.54 per month, and £102.48 per year.
Recently residents have seen their rates increase by 2.9% last year for 2017/18, while in 2016/17 the bill increased by 1.6%. 2015/16 saw the rates massively increase by 5.8%, while 2014/15 was the only year in the past six which saw no rise in the rates, while in 2013/14 rates increased by 1.6%.
The District Rate is used to fund and improve local Council services such as refuse collection and recycling; leisure and recreation; building control and planning; tourism and events; community services; economic development and environmental health.
It is also used to invest in capital and infrastructure projects within the district.
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