Green MLA to make rates plea
Fresh taxes should be imposed to replace the flawed rates system, a Green Party Assemblyman is expected to tell the North's Stormont Assembly today.
Brian Wilson (Green, North Down) is calling for a wholesale review of the new rating system and believes it unfairly discriminates against people living on their own.
His motion before the legislature later today will call for consideration of a local income tax to lessen the rates burden.
“Let’s have our own tax raising powers. The Scottish Parliament does have those and there’s no reason why we couldn’t be given the same powers,” he said.
“It isn’t an immediate possibility but in the long-term we need to review this situation and see how alternative taxes would apply and let’s get a better balance because property tax is unfair.”
This April, the Department of Finance and Personnel introduced rates based on the value of homes.
Although the overall sum raised has stayed the same, some with houses in desirable areas like Belfast’s Malone Road have been handed bills running into the thousands.
The Assembly has no powers to impose taxation and the British chancellor of the exchequer has rejected previous attempts to earmark local taxes for specific purposes.
Mr Wilson added the position of single people needed special consideration.
He called for those in single occupancy, mainly pensioners, to enjoy a rebate on their rates in line with the rest of the UK.
The DFP has refused to comment on the matter ahead of today’s debate.
Ray Farley, chairman of the Fair Rates Campaign, said: “The unfairness of the single capital value scheme must be reviewed as well as the other systems that might be considered such as a Northern Ireland sales tax or reverting to the old rental value system as this has a neutral fiscal impact.”
