Small local rates reversal welcomed by ratepayers

THERE has been a tentative welcome from Drogheda ratepayers for the reversal of the rate increase which would have seen them pay 3.5% more than their Dundalk counterparts nd 17.4% more than Louth County Rate payers.

THE draft budget annual budget 2020 was published by Louth County Council executive last week and the revised Annual Rate of Valuation (ARV) proposed is Drogheda 0.229, Dundalk 0.227 and Louth County 0.200.

“While this is an improvement on the previous proposal, our Council is the only one in Ireland proposing to use three different ARV rates,” says Niall Kierans.

“LoveDrogheda BID (Business Improvement District) is seeking a date from Louth County Council as to when a uniform single ARV will be applied to all Louth County rateable properties.”

The Valuations

Office through Reval 2019 have completed a comprehensive revaluation of all rateable properties in the State.

These valuations take account of the size, location and potential rental income of each property.

As a consequence, in general, they will have valued a rural rateable property lower, than a property on a main street in a large town or city. This relative valuation will equate in a bigger or smaller rates bill, due on that property.

It is proposed that Drogheda’s rate payers will now make a €12.0 million direct contribution to Louth County Council in 2020.

‘We need to have some adult conversations as to why this discriminatory proposal was put forward by our Council in the first place,” adds Chairman, Geoff Fitzpatrick of LoveDrogheda. “Local taxation policies need to be fair and need to be seen to be fair.”