Local rates freeze likely for 2011

It is likely that there will be no increase in commercial rates in Athlone for 2011, a move being welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce. A decision not to increase rates is likely to be replicated in the county, but some county councillors there are understood to be pushing for a major decrease in the rates. While Athlone Town Council will not hold its budget meeting until January, the feeling among councillors this week is that the rates will remain the same. Fine Gael Councillor Mark Cooney said: “The thinking is that we will have no increase. While there is scope in the town (for a decrease) we are putting a lot of money into capital projects in the town. The big issue will be the Local Government Fund and the hit it gets in the budget.†Fianna Fáil Councillor Aengus O'Rourke said: “I'm hoping there will be no change. We haven't had any indication from the executive yet but we're pushing hard for no increase.†Speaking about whether there had been any pressure from the business community for a decrease in the rates, Cllr O'Rourke said that while some people felt a 1-2% decrease can bring big savings the reality is that a 1% reduction in rates would only realise a saving of about €2 a week for 80% of rate payers. His party colleague Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, who sits on both the town and county council, said he hoped the rates remained the same in both the town and the county. “There is always a case for a decrease, but by decreasing it by 1%, it's only the big players who benefit but not the small shops. I want to protect those small businesses as best we can,†he said. CEO of Athlone Chamber of Commerce Siobhan Bigley said: “We would be pushing for a zero increase. We wouldn't be looking for a decrease because 1-2% of a cut will only bring it down by €5 or €7 a month, but overall it will be too significant for the local authority.†However, she said while the business community will not be pushing for a rates decrease, businesses will be putting pressure on the council to finish the investments promised for the town, such as the castle upgrade and the art gallery. “We're happy to stick to the same because we know the local authority needs the money but we'll be pushing for those investments in infrastructure and making sure that they'll be completed on target,†said Ms Bigley.