15 February 2007
DISTRICT RATES FOR 2007/2008
The Department of the Environment (DOE) has announced that all district councils have struck their rates for the 2007/2008 financial year.
A spokesperson said: “The district rates are struck before 15 February each year by individual district councils, to meet the costs of local services, including refuse collection and disposal; street cleansing; leisure and recreation facilities etc. District councils strike a domestic rate and a non-domestic rate.”
District rates vary from district to district, reflecting the rateable resources and spending policies of individual councils. This year, the non-domestic district rates show percentage increases of between 0% and 10.55%, when compared with the 2006/2007 figures. However, as domestic rates will be completely rebased on capital valuations for the first time this coming year, a like-for-like comparison cannot be made with the previous year’s figures.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
District councils are required by law to strike their domestic and non-domestic rates before 15 February each year.
District rates are struck by individual district councils to meet the costs of local services, including refuse collection and disposal; street cleansing; leisure and recreation facilities etc. A table showing the district rates struck for 2007/2008 can be found at http://www.doeni.gov.uk/district_council_rates_2007-2008.pdf
From 2007/2008 onwards domestic rates will be determined on the basis of capital valuations of property as assessed by the Valuation and Lands Agency with the valuation date fixed as at 1 January 2005. Details of the assessed values can be found at www.mycapitalvalueni.gov.uk.
Full details about Rating Reform can be found on the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) website, http://www.ratingreviewni.gov.uk. Non-domestic rates will continue to be based on rental values.
Domestic and non-domestic regional rates are struck each year by DFP to help pay for central services such as health, education, roads and transport.
The combination of district and regional rates is used to calculate the rates bills for ratepayers.
Further News Media information contact DOE Press Office, Tel. 028 9054 0003.
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