Donegal County Councillors have been unable to reach an agreement on the council’s 2018 budget.
After almost 6 hours of adjournments and private deliberations at yesterday’s meeting, it was agreed last night that the meeting be adjourned until December 1st.
All Councillors from across the party divide voted against an increase of 5% in commercial rates.
Speaking after the final adjournment last night, Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher says Sinn Fein has put forward a proposal and hopes other Cllrs will consider it in the coming days:
Sinn Fein proposal for Budget 2018:
Propose to increase the small business grant scheme in line with each percentage point increase in the global rate increase to a maximum of €500.
On a practical level the impact of this proposal would mean 78% of businesses would see a decrease in their rate bill, 12% of businesses would pay less than their charged rates bill for 2018 and only 10% would see a practical increase.
The cost to this scheme is €250,000.
Working examples
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A shop in Carndonagh charged €500 in rates for 2017 would pay €475 when the 5% grant was included. The same shop would be charged €525 in 2018 but would only be liable for €472.50 when the 10% grant is included.
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A Guesthouse in west Donegal charged €10,000 in rates for 2017 would pay €9,750 when the 5% grant was included. The same hotel would be charged €10,500 in 2018 but would only be liable for €10,000 when the 10% grant is included.
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A Hotel in Letterkenny charged €30,000 in 2017 would pay €29,750 when the 5% grant was included. The same hotel would be charged €31,500 in 2018 but would only be liable for €31,000 when the 10% grant is included.
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