Secrecy shrouds the reason for the increase in Port St Mary’s rates.

One commissioner said last week they are ’muzzled’ and the rise is down to ’an event’ but could not reveal what the event is.

The village announced a rise of 5.2% to 331p in the pound without any explanation about why it was necessary and how the extra income will be spent.

This makes Port St Mary the second highest rated authority in the south behind Castletown and one of the most expensive in the island.

Concerned rate payers demanded an explanation.

One wrote: ’Whilst appreciating fully, that costs and provision of services do go up, I was surprised, to say the least as were many residents in Port St Mary that the rise was 1.1% higher than the recently published CPI figure of 4.1%.

’As you will appreciate, we pay both domestic as well as commercial rates so the combined increase to us is substantial.

’It clearly took a lot of ratepayers by complete surprise and has caused some upset, as can be seen from some of the Facebook messages.

’Moving forward, it might have been more easily accepted if we all knew why it was such a large increase and what it is being used for.’

Another is struggling already to pay the bills and goes without central heating before a hike in rates.

She wrote: ’Myself and many other residents ... are very angry and confused’ about the rate increase.

’5.2% is a huge percentage increase when many residents have had no or little rises to their wages and pension during the last few years.’

She asked for an explanation ’as there does not seem to have been any upgrade to services or amenities’.

’I am currently sitting here with no gas central heating on as my husband and I are struggling to pay their huge standing charges on a small pension and am worried now how I am going to find over £500 rates on a one bedroomed flat.’

At last week’s meeting of the authority, commissioner Andy Phair said: ’I suggest we give a report of the amount we can expect to gain and how it is anticipated to be spent and the affect on the reserves.’

Michelle Haywood said that Peel Commissioners produce a summary showing expenditure.

Salaries are a ’huge’ element.

Laurence Vaughan-Williams said: ’We are muzzled from giving the true reason for the increase, we cannot discuss it in an open meeting.

’I for one do not want there to be a white wash and say it is because of additional expenditure, it is not.’

Mr Vaughan-Wlliams added: ’We were forced to increase them due to events that have happened and had those events not happened we would not have had to increase the rates.’

â?¢ Port St Mary Commissioners is due to issue a statement about the rate rise shortly.