RATEPAYERS in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area are set to face one of the lowest increases in recent years, as councillors prepare to approve a recommended district rates rise of 1.96 per-cent when they meet on Thursday evening.
Council officials estimate the increase will amount to around £10 per year for a domestic property with an average capital value of £115,000.
For business ratepayers, the rise is expected to equate to approximately £26 annually for a property with an average net annual value of £5,000.
The council says it must raise almost £47 million through the district rate to meet projected expenditure of around £50 million in the coming financial year.
The proposed 1.96 per-cent increase is significantly lower than last year’s 3.76 per-cent rise and compares favourably with increases set by neighbouring councils, including Mid Ulster and Derry City and Strabane.
Among the major allocations is £19 million towards ongoing work at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, with £7 million of that total coming from grant aid.
Newtownbutler is set to benefit from £1 million for a Peace-Plus project, while £250,000 has been earmarked for town centre public realm and regeneration works in Enniskillen. The closure of Drummee Transfer Station will cost £1.9 million.
Across the district, £1.9 million has been allocated for development works at waste facilities, £1.3 million for new vehicles, equipment and plant, £1 million for the continued delivery of the council’s play strategy, and a further £1 million for strategic capital community grants.
Environment and place – which includes waste management, recycling centres and landfill operations – remains the largest area of expenditure at £22.5 million, an increase of £1 million on the previous year.
The budget for community and wellbeing services will rise by £200,000 to £11.2 million, while regeneration and planning has been allocated £4.4 million.
