Small businesses in Roscommon could have no increase in their commercial rates next year, under a new waiver scheme. The council will today sign off on a policy that will protect lower rate-payers. There are 2,124 commercial rate customers in Co Roscommon - and they're due to pay over 13.8 million euro this year. Almost two thirds of the rates are paid by just 85 businesses - they all pay over 20,000 euro and their combined rates bill is nearly 8.5 million. Councillors in Roscommon want to protect rates for the other 2,039 businesses, whose rates bill are less than 20,000.
And so, they are proposing their rates do not increase at all next year - as long as the council doesn't opt to increase rates by more than 5 per cent for the higher rate-payers. However, a 5 per cent margin must be kept between the under 20,000 euro group and the over 20,000 group. So if the council decides to increase rates by 7.5 per cent for the over 20,000 euro group, the under 20,000 euro group will automatically see an increase of 2.5 per cent to maintain the margin. This Small Business Waiver Support Scheme was approved by the council's strategic policy group on June 9th and is due to be backed by all councillors this afternoon, at their monthly meeting.
