Michael Commssioners is the first to announce a rate freeze, remaining at 144p in the pound.
Rates are expressed in terms of pence in the pound. This current system based on a 1969 valuation of all the property in the island at that time.
Any properties built or improved since 1969 are compared to a similar property that was in existence at that time and attributed a similar value. That value is in pounds. So a house with a rateable value of £100 would pay £100 x 451 - £451 - in Douglas for example.
Arbory and Rushen have declared an increase to 147p, an increase of 7.5% over last year.
Garff Commissioners will be increasing rates by 8p in the pound, from 143p to 151p, 6% increase.
And Onchan will also be increasing its rates by 20p to 343p in the pound, which also represents an increase of 6%.
Onchan Commissioners finance lead Anthony Allen attributed this rise to ’high inflation, energy costs, and waste disposal charges’.
’This will enable Onchan local authority to invest in people, machinery and infrastructure to provide services for the benefit of everyone in Onchan.
Arbory and Rushen commissioners cited mainly a 22.5% rise in contributions to the Southern Civic Amenity Site as the reason for their rate increase, with their payments rising from £65,224 in 2019/20 to £111,741 in the coming year.
The board said it also agreed to support the proposed 3.5p increase in contributions to the Southern Swimming Pool from 2.5p to 6p.
’This rate has remained constant for over 40 years and is necessary to meet the challenging circumstances affecting the pools operating costs and income,’ the authority said.
The remaining 1.5p increase, which it notes as being ’the only element which the commissioners have any direct opportunity to influence’ is due to ’increases in waste charges and contracting expenses’.
As for what Garff’s extra income will be spent on, chair Marinda Faragher said: ’The thing that worried most people [in the commissioners] was the inflation and the increased fuel costs. So we had to factor a bit more there, a bit of contingency.
’We employ contractors to do things like grass cutting, and so wages are going up - I think there’s a pressure on people [employers] to be giving the living wage.’
She continued: ’But in the main, what we’re looking at is progressing a couple of schemes that we’ve had on hold.
’So we’ll be getting additional loans from the government for the skateboard park on Glen Road, and the play park equipment on the promenade, that needs upgrading this year.
In addition, they were looking at putting in some shower facilities and changing cubicles on the promenade to improve things for beach going visitors.
She added: ’Another priority for us is the office.
’Our own office on New Road is now no longer fit for purpose.
’So we’re having to look at professional fees for an architect to start looking at that.
’And it’s basic things [around Garff] like tidying up areas, perhaps where there’s a lot of weeds growing - this is what people see.’
Garff Commissioners has also recently taken on responsibility for cleaning gully pots from the government, something which Ms Faragher said would factor into the budget.
She added: ’In the countryside, in the rural areas it’s making sure the gully pots are emptied regularly so that it doesn’t build up, so that there’s not water lying on the roads or perhaps in danger of flooding properties.’
A sum of money would also be given to the rural library.
The other local authorities which have so far declared include:
Douglas - 451p (increase of 1.6% over the previous year).
Peel - 264p (increase of 2.7%)
Ramsey - 445p (increase of 7.2%)
Port Erin - 331p (increase of 4.75%).
Port St Mary - 354p (increase of 1.5%).