Call to defer rates revaluation until businesses in Mayo get back on their feet

THE revaluation of rates, due to come into effect next year, should be deferred.

The call has come from a Mayo councillor who said they should be put off for at least a year.

Ballinrobe-based Councillor Michael Burke, at a meeting of Mayo County Council, proposed they write to the minister to ask that the new system would not start in 2024.

Businesses are still dealing with huge energy costs and other issues and he asked that the new rates be deferred for at least a year to give them a chance to get back on their feet.

If bills come on January 1 they will have an impact and small businesses will not be able to carry the cost, he warned.

Head of finance Peter Duggan said the valuations office will be issuing final certs in September.

The new system has already been deferred for two years, but the council will write to the minister.

They were being told that under the rates revaluation, two-thirds of rate payers would see a reduction in their bill. The other third will stay the same or go up.

The point was made by Councillor Gerry Coyle that if two-thirds are staying the same, the ones going up have seen an 'awful increase'.

Rates, said Councillor Christy Hyland, are going up anywhere from 200 to 500%, which is unsustainable.

Councillor Michael Loftus again raised the issue of a business waiver scheme, to offer support next year.

They were getting a lot of complaints about the rates and what the charges will be like next year, he said.