Council proposes to keep commercial rates unchanged in Westmeath for 2024

Westmeath County Council is holding its annual budget meeting on Monday - and the local authority's management is proposing to keep its current level of commercial rates unchanged in 2024.

In the council's draft budget for the coming twelve months it describes the rates paid by businesses in the county as its "most important source of income".

The draft budget for 2024 includes rates income estimated at some €17.9 million, which would be up by €54,000 on the 2023 figure.

"The budget provides for no change in the charge for rates for 2024," writes council chief executive Pat Gallagher.

"The increase in rates income is due to a combination of little buoyancy from new property valuations, compounded by the contracting of income because of successful appeals lodged with the Valuation Tribunal against valuations determined by the Tailte Éireann."

Mr Gallagher added that the council was setting aside €220,000 in the budget to provide a grant scheme for the payment of rates, which would provide for a grant equal to 6% of any rates bill up of to €5,000 - ie. a maximum grant of €300.

He stated that 80% of commercial properties in Westmeath had a rates bill of €5,000 or less.

In addition, the local authority is to set aside €150,000 for 2024 in respect of its shopfront enhancement grant scheme in the county.

Westmeath councillors are set to discuss and adopt the budget for next year at the statutory budget meeting which will begin on Monday at 10am in Mullingar.