Ramsey Town Commissioners have set the town rate at 332p in the pound for the 2010-2011 financial year.
The new rate was announced at a meeting of the Commissioners held on Wednesday February 17. Although rising by 8p the new rate represents the result of a two-year programme of prudent financial management within which there had been no rate increase in the 2009-2010 financial year.
In announcing the rate lead member for finance Richard Radcliffe said the Commission had had to ‘consider very carefully its budgets and services in order to meet the challenges facing the Island since the changes in the UK VAT agreement', and went on to say that the Commissioners had rigorously scrutinised its budgets to identify savings and drive up efficiencies without unduly compromising levels of service provision. ‘The new rate largely reflects the impact on the Commission of increased refuse disposal charges imposed by the Department of Local Government and the Environment - from £10 per tonne to £29 per tonne,' said Mr Radcliffe, adding that the full effect of the withdrawal of government support alone equated to a 10.42p in the £ rate increase, a figure the Commissioners were not prepared to pass on in its entirety to the ratepayer. Mr Radcliffe also pointed out that the town's net rateable value had decreased by 0.52%, from £669,413 to £665,915.
In preparing its 2010-2011 budget the Commission has sought to absorb the impact of inflationary increases while retaining funds for priority capital schemes. One such major project will be the resurfacing of the roadway in Mooragh Park, scheduled to begin in the winter of 2010.
A statement on Ramsey town rates for 2010-2011 is available from the Town Hall and can be downloaded here.