Council to consider Draft Budget and District Rate at Special Council Meeting

The total amount of rates paid by Fermanagh and Omagh District residents and businesses is made up from a combination of the Regional Rate and the District Rate.
 

The Regional Rate is set by Central Government and represents the largest portion of the overall rates bill which residents and businesses pay. 

The Regional Rate - which has not yet been set by Central Government - contributes towards the cost of providing services such as roads; education; health provision; emergency services; law and order; social services and community development.

56 per cent of the total of Fermanagh and Omagh residents’ rates (domestic ratepayers) and 62 per cent of the total of business rates (non-domestic ratepayers) goes towards funding these Central Government services.

The District Rate, which is set by Council, is used to fund and improve key local Council services such as refuse collection and recycling; leisure and recreation; building control and planning; tourism and events; community services; economic development and environmental health.

It is also used to invest in key capital and infrastructure projects within the district to enhance the quality of life and the local environment for all.]

44 per cent of the total rates paid by Fermanagh and Omagh residents and 38 per cent of the total rates paid by businesses goes to the Council to fund these key services and development of Council owned infrastructure in the local community. 

The balance of the rates goes towards the provision of Central Government services.

Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Stephen McCann said:

"The draft budget and proposed District Rate for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have been developed following an extensive and robust financial planning exercise overseen by the Council’s Estimates Working Group" 

"This involved the review of existing budgets, Council and Community Planning priorities and Council Service Delivery Plans, leading to the development of new draft budgets.

"The Council is acutely aware of minimising the impact on ratepayers but also has to consider a range of factors that will impact on the Council budgets including changes in the current operating environment and uncertainty associated with the availability Central Government funding."
 

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will meet at 5pm today (Thursday 8 February 2018) at the Townhall, Enniskillen to agree the budgets for 2018/2019 financial year and to set the District Rate that will apply for that year in Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area.