This article is from page 17 of the 2013-08-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
RATE payers in Ennis are facing an uncertain year in 2014 with the prospect of a split rate – with businesses paying more for the second half of the year than they do in the first six months.
The upcoming merger of Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council means that the Ennis authority will strike a rate for the first six months of the year in December and businesses in Ennis may be forced to pay a different “county” rate for the second hand of the year.
The difference between the rate charged by Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council is one of the highest of any town and county council in the country. If the charge was directly transferred at its current rate it would mean a 10 per cent increase in the charge levied for businesses in Ennis.
“The town council is going to set a rate in Ennis until June of next year and we don’t know what is going to happen in July. There is a huge disparity between the town council rate and the county council rate in Ennis, and the fear is that the new rate will be adjusted upwards. But businesses in Ennis could see a jump of something like 10 per cent next year,” said Rita McInerney, CEO of Ennis Chamber of Commerce.
“Our members could budget for the year on one rate and then come July that rate is no more. That is the fear that a lot of businesses in Ennis have right now.”
Following the news that 16 jobs could be jeopardy at the Gallery Cafe in Gort, Rita called for all local authorities to show more support for local businesses.
“It is difficult in the hospitality and tourism sector at the moment and everyone is looking at every way they cant increase revenue of to cut costs.
“Businesses have looked at all of their expenses – like rent or staff costs and they have been able to make some progress. However, when it comes to rates, it is not something that you can shop around with,” she said.
“That is the most frustrating thing for businesses, as the recession has hit and as things have gotten more difficult, they have been able to work with suppliers and workers – but there has been no reduction in rates.”