SAY NO TO TWO RATE INCREASES

May 23, 2013

Dungarvan Businesses; Are you aware that the two values used to calculate your rates are set to increase in 2014 ??

The result of this is that you as a business owner in Dungarvan will be paying more!!!

Your rates are calculated by multiplying the (1) Annual Rate Valuation, as determined by the County Council, by the (2) Valuation on your Property, as determined by the Commissioner of Valuation

Simple example:

(1) ARV (2013) (2) Property

Valuation Payable

Rates Payable (2013) €60.34 X €50 = €3,017.

There is a strong indication that we face an increase to the ARV for Dungarvan as the format for council mergers across the country is set to bring about ‘equalisation’ of rates in city and county councils. Also separately to this, the revaluation of properties is taking place in Dungarvan which may also increase the rates payable on your property in 2014.

(1) ARV

Recently the Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber collected your signature for a petition to STOP AN INCREASE IN RATES resulting from the imminent merger of the Waterford City, Town and County Councils.

Waterford is the first county to be involved in the merger process where there are three rate bases: a City Council rate, a County Council rate and a Town Council rate.

Dungarvan’s rates base is lower than the current City and County rate base, but it has not been taken into consideration. Furthermore because Dungarvan Town Council has worked within its budgets over the years, there are no overdrafts or loans outstanding as it enters into this merger, unlike the city and county councils. Therefore if the rates go up; Dungarvan Businesses are being asked to contribute to paying off City and county debts unless we demand otherwise.

We need you – as a rate payer to start considering how a rate increase will affect you, particularly where there would be no additional services offered to the town.

(2) Revaluation of properties by the Commissioner of Valuation

Revaluations are also taking place all over Ireland, and 2013 is Waterford’s time. This is separate to the change outlined above. At this stage you have no doubt been contacted by the Rates Valuation Office, had a visit or a request for information (if you are a hotel / pub or petrol station).

During 2013 the Rates Valuation Office will engage with rate payers and tell businesses what their rates liability for 2014 is likely to be, based on the new valuations. Businesses can then advise the Rates Valuation Office if they are unhappy with the new valuation through the representation process which is free.

The new Valuation List will be published December 2013 and will be effective for rates purposes in 2014. People’s individual rates liabilities may/will change from that point on.

So this is where it gets grey…..

If you have a new Rateable Valuation based on your business/ size etc., it will still not be transparent what your rates are likely to be unless we get a ‘stay’ on the current (rates) ARV (set by Council), otherwise any increase could be blurred by the revaluation rate also going up!

Your new Rateable Valuation given to you by the Rates Valuation Office (2) will multiplied by a newly amalgamated council multiplier (1) ARV, which if brought in line with Waterford City, will be set at €66.22 as opposed to €60.34 which was used as the multiplier for Dungarvan in 2013.

Possible future example (1) ARV (2014) (2) Property

Valuation Payable

Rates Payable (2014) €66.22 X €55 = €3,312

What Can You Do?

Please contact your local TD and demand that they stop the Annual Rate Valuation increasing for the next five years!!

Say NO to an increase in the ARV as a result of the merger

Contact your Dail representative today!!

John Deasy TD; 83 O’Connell Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Tel; 058-43003 Fax; 058-45315

Email; john.deasy@oir.ie

Ciara Conway TD; 36 Mary Street, Dungarvan, Co Waterford

Tel ; 058 24514