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City rates rise by £2 per month City rates rise by £2 per month
(about 1 hour later)
Householders in Belfast are facing an increase of almost 3.5% in their rates bill - an average of £2 per month.Householders in Belfast are facing an increase of almost 3.5% in their rates bill - an average of £2 per month.
The annual bill for a terrace house will rise by about £18. Those living in a four bedroom, detached house face a £62 increase. The annual bill for a terraced house will rise by about £18. Those living in a four-bedroom detached house face a £62 increase.
At the city council's meeting on Monday, councillors agreed to a 7.8% increase in the district rate. The increase was agreed at a council meeting on Monday evening.
Combined with the regional rate which is zero - this means a 3.35% increase for the average household in the city. Sinn Fein Councillor Tom Hartley said they had "worked tirelessly" to ensure rates bills were as low as possible without affecting frontline services.
"We have kept this rates rise down to an absolute minimum of less than 50p per week against the backdrop of rising costs and a drop in income," said Sinn Fein's Councillor Tom Hartley, chairman of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources committee. "We have kept this rates rise down to an absolute minimum of less than 50p per week against the backdrop of rising costs and a drop in income," said Mr Hartley, who is chairman of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources committee.
"Councillors have worked tirelessly to ensure that the impact of the rates bill would be as low as possible and that no front-line services would be affected."
He said that the council was also building a city investment fund of £30m to invest across the city in new landmark developments.He said that the council was also building a city investment fund of £30m to invest across the city in new landmark developments.
The council has invested £13m in the Titanic Signature Project, the Community Greenway Project and the new Lyric and Mac Theatres.The council has invested £13m in the Titanic Signature Project, the Community Greenway Project and the new Lyric and Mac Theatres.
This commitment has helped ensure a total investment of £153m in those projects, he said.This commitment has helped ensure a total investment of £153m in those projects, he said.
At the meeting, councillors agreed to a 7.8% increase in the district rate.
Combined with the regional rate, which is zero, this means a 3.35% increase for the average household in the city.
Rates bills are made up of two parts, the district rate and regional rate.
District rates are fixed annually by councils and the money raised is used to pay for services such as bin collections, recycling and waste disposal, leisure services, street cleaning and parks.
The regional rate is set by the government and is used to pay for services such as roads, education and health.