BELFAST and Derry have approved the largest district rates hikes among the north's councils.
All 11 councils plan to increase their district rates this year.
With budgets stretched over rising energy prices, higher wages and uncertain central government funding, Belfast City Council set the highest district rate increase for households at 7.99 per cent while Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council was the lowest at 4.9 per cent.
Domestic rates in Northern Ireland are comprised of district rates set by councils, paying for services like leisures centres and waste management, and the regional rate set by central government which covers expenses like health and road infrastructure.
In the absence of a Stormont Executive, the regional rate will be set this year by the Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris.
For other councils, district rate increases over seven per cent were also announced by Derry City and Strabane District Council (7.97), Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council (7.95), Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (7.49) and Mid Ulster District Council (7.3).
The remaining increases were Ards and North Down Borough Council (6.8 per cent), Newry Mourne & Down District Council (5.99 per cent), Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council (5.96 per cent), Fermanagh & Omagh District Council (5.59 per cent) and Mid & East Antrim Council (5.43 per cent).
A spokesperson for Belfast City Council stated the 7.99 per cent increase was below the rate of inflation (10.1 per cent) and kept as “low as possible” to allow continued investment in key services.
The rise equates to an annual rise of £38 for an average household.
Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council’s “modest increase” of 4.9 per cent was announced alongside “ambitious plans” to attract over £1 billion of public and private investment that aims to generate at least 2,500 new jobs by 2025.
After considering cuts to avoid a record-breaking increase of 16 per cent, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council settled on a final figure of 7.95 per cent.
Mayor Ivor Wallace said an unprecedented rise in costs had left the council with nearly £7.2 million of “additional financial pressures beyond our control.”
He said this would be offset by around £5.6m in savings and additional income.
In Derry City & Strabane District Council, the SDLP’s group leader Brian Tierney said the rise of 7.97 per cent was impacted by the political deadlock at Stormont and the British Government’s failure to increase the rates’ support grant.
For Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Lord Mayor Paul Greenfield said: “Never in the history of council has elected members and council officers faced as sharp an increase in the cost of living. The impact of high inflation together with unavoidable pressures regarding energy, fuel, contractual and salary increases has created a huge strain on the organisation and the 2023/24 budget."
Earlier this month, a Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said the secretary of state would aim to "protect public finances and provide certainty to Northern Ireland businesses and households".
"We will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland departments to ensure that the rate level set provides security to Northern Ireland’s finances whilst protecting those in need," they said.
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DISRTICT RATES INCREASES
Belfast City Council – 7.99 per cent
Derry and Strabane District Council – 7.97 per cent
Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council - 7.95 per cent
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council – 7.49 per cent
Mid Ulster District Council - 7.3 per cent
Ards and North Down Borough Council - 6.8 per cent
Newry Mourne & Down District Council - 5.99 per cent
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council – 5.96 per cent
Fermanagh & Omagh District Council – 5.59 per cent
Mid & East Antrim Council – 5.43 per cent
Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council – 4.9 per cent
