Hi °C | Lo °C Traders are furious at Dun Laoghaire County Council's plans to cut commercial rates by just 1 per cent.
"It's an insult to the business community," said the town's Business Association secretary Breasal O Caollai.
The reduction is contained in the proposed budget for next year drawn up by County Manager Owen Keegan.
But Mr O Caollai fumed: "Instead of getting a genuine and worthwhile reduction in the commercial rates we are to get a token gesture.
"Imagine if any business were to offer its customers a 1pc reduction in its prices, it would be laughed out of town.
"Yet, at a time when businesses are actually closing down all over the place and several more likely to close in the New Year, all our county council can consider is a derisory 1pc reduction in what is a major overhead and headache for all in business."
Mr O Caollai was also disgusted there would be no cut in on-street parking charges. "It is now cheaper to park in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown's privately-owned car parks, with all the security and protection from poor weather, than to park on-street."
The council meets on December 21 to vote on their proposed budget for 2010.
Meanwhile, a Fine Gael councillor in Fingal is seeking the four Dublin local authorities to merge their services to fund a 6pc commercial rate decrease.
Cllr Kieran Dennison said:"A rate reduction is vital if small businesses and traders are to survive."
Promises
"Inflation has dropped by 6pc this year and we need to drop rates in line with it. During the local election campaign many candidates made commitments to local jobs so now they will have an opportunity to keep those promises."
Mr Dennison said Fingal will "spend €270m this year of which €128m is funded by rates with commercial water and refuse charges adding more than €10m to this".
"Rates are among the few costs which businesses have no control over. As their revenues have dropped, businesses have been looking to cut costs across the board," he added.
comurphy@herald.ie
