Hikes could push many over edge
CALCULATION PROCESS 'UTTERLY FLAWED'
Publican Brendan McCormack behind the bar in the Balrothery Inn.
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BUSINESSES are in danger of being pushed 'over the edge' and out of business if the proposed rates revaluations are implemented.
That's according to one Balbriggan publican, who along with his two brothers, operate the White Hart Inn in Balbriggan and the Balrothery Inn, whose businesses have been hit with a rate bill increase of 45%. Brendan McCormack told the Fingal Independent that this would add a total of € 20,000 to the businesses annual rate bill.
'The calculation process is utterly flawed because it is based on a 2005 notional rental amounts,' he said.
He said the rates hadn't reacted to the recent downturn and that the substantial increases would put a lot of us out of business. He said he had heard anecdotally that a huge number of people had decided not to pay the rates because they can't afford it.
'My business is already in difficulty. People have ideas of how well business do but there is a fine line between profit and loss. These rates will push us over the edge and into loss making.'
He said that if he was to pass the rates increase onto the customers, it would represent about 10c on every pint. 'It is a notional tax that has no value. I already pay for my water and waste collection so what is it paying for?'
Between the two pubs, there are about 20 full-time and between 20 and 25 part-time staff. Meeting the increased cost would mean losing about 10% of the workforce,' he added.
He is planning to establish a forum of likeminded people to increase the pressure on Fingal County Council about revisiting the issue.
Another Balbriggan retailer Gerry Andrews, who operates two Spar supermarkets on Drogheda Street and Dublin Street, has also hit out at the revaluations.
He said his own rates had almost doubled in the re-assessment by the Valuations Office.
'Any increase in rates on businesses at this time is completely removed from the real world and commercial reality.
'In the current economic climate there is not justification for the increase, and in particular in Balbriggan which has suffered greatly over the past year due to the roadworks,
He said that these had been carried out on a Monday to Friday basis, which had added greatly to the length of time it took to complete them.
'Businesses should be getting a rates rebate for the damage caused to business because of the length of time the whole construction took.' Mr Andrews has appealed his revaluation.
Anybody wishing to get involved with the new forum should phone 018412252.
