May 2009
Monthly Archive
A Rates Holiday for New businesses
Posted by info on 05 May 2009 | Tagged as: Campaign, Economy
I am reluctant to make grand promises about being able to create jobs in County Leitrim in the short term. Councillors do have a role in economic planning, but their statutory ability to steer the County Manager in a particular direction is often limited.
That said, the Council does have one specific power which has a direct impact on sustaining and creating local jobs: the power to set commercial rates.
As with every other County Council, Leitrim County Council will struggle to balance its books this year. Its funding from the Local Government Fund has been reduced and it is generating lower revenues from both commercial rates and motor taxation.
However, this does not prevent the Council from taking a pro-active approach to the issue of rates. By recouping expenses from other areas, the Council could introduce a rates holiday for new businesses, which would remove a significant burden from local entrepreneurs while they find their feet in these very difficult times.
For instance, if Councillors were willing to forego the Cathoirleach’s Allowance, which costs the Council several hundred thousand euro over the term of the Council, the money could easily be diverted to a rates holiday for new businesses.
All of this will come up for discussion when the Council meets towards the end of the year to frame its budget for 2010.
If we are to sustain jobs in County Leitrim, we need to start being creative with the powers we have. Some sacrifice on the part of Councillors, and a rates holiday for new businesses, would be a step in the right direction.
