Time will tell if the new domestic rates system
announced by the direct rule Finance Minister (Mr Pearson) is fair or not.
One thing is for sure and that is that the present system, which has run for
30 years, is far from perfect and really needed overhauling.
I welcome the fact that the Minister has
announced that a new appeals process is to be introduced for the use of
those householders who might be unhappy with the new rates bills. I commend
the fact also that he has announced that ‘transitional’ arrangements are
going to be made to assist those who will inevitably be saddled with a
massive lift in their annual assessment.
The first of the new bills will be arriving in
our letter-boxes in April 2007. That gives us three years to look at the new
evaluations of our separate properties and to decide if we have grounds for
appeal.
A considerable portion of the cash collected will
be used by Borough and District Councils such as Magherafelt to provide waste, recreation, public health, registry,
building control, tourism promotion, job creation and other local services.
It therefore is important that local Councillors re-double their efforts to
run an efficient operation and while Magherafelt Council has always been at
the top part of the league, it will be difficult to stay there as other
high-spending councils trim their sails.
John Junkin (24th
July, 2004)
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