RATEPAYERS in Belfast will face an increase of just under eight percent in payments following seven years of the rates being struck at under three percent.
Members of Belfast City Council voted to increase the district rate for 2023/24 by 7.99 percent, sparking claims that the hike would "further punish" residents already enduring the cost-of-living crisis.
The increase means a monthly increase of £3.13 for three-bed semi-detached properties, £2.05 for a terraced property and £1.98 for apartments, while retail properties will see a monthly rise of £42.14, and offices £51.44.
Sinn Féin, Alliance and DUP councillors voted in favour of the rise, which faced opposition from the SDLP and People Before Profit.
Speaking in the chamber, Sinn Féin's Ciaran Beattie said the lack of a Stormont Executive was responsible for the steep rise.
He said Stormont had financially supported local councils during in recent years.
"Only for that we would be in a much worse scenario than we are in," he told members.
"We don't have that Executive for support now, and the reality is our staff - after going through the cost-of-living crisis, the rising cost of inflation - our staff need a pay rise."
He added: "The only way we're getting that money is through the rate."
Following the meeting, the chair of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, Emmett McDonough-Brown, said the rates being kept under three percent for seven years was a "significant achievement", but said "none of us, including council, is exempt from the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the rising costs of energy and services."
The Alliance councillor added: "As councillors, it’s important that we strike a balance between supporting our ratepayers and residents, while also looking after the needs of our own staff as they too are impacted by the current economic times.
Mr McDonough-Brown said enhanced services would include a boost to neighbourhood and city centre taskforces and recruiting new staff to tackle issues including city centre cleanliness.
"Any increase in bills is never a good news story for households, particularly in the current climate; but I want to reassure our ratepayers that we will continue to scrutinise council spend and remain committed to making further efficiency savings wherever possible, while also delivering on our community plan for the city and prioritising action on core council services and facilities, climate, and digital innovation," he said.
However, People Before Profit councillor Fiona Ferguson has called the increase "completely avoidable".
"The cost-of-living crisis is far from over. Many thousands of people in Belfast are struggling with the price of bills, striking for basic pay offers, turning to food banks. In these circumstances, it is totally unjustifiable to punish people further by hiking the rates," the Oldpark councillor said.
SDLP Botanic councillor Gary McKeown said his party "couldn't vote in all conscience" for the rise when "there are ways the rate burden could've been reduced which haven't been fully pursued".
