“It’s goodbye to local villages, to the shops and struggling businesses in places like Rosemount, Castletown-Geoghegan, Ballynacargy, Rathowen, Castlepollard, Collinstown, Finea and all the others with these new Revaluations,” an angry Deputy Willie Penrose told Topic this week, as he pointed out the “horrendous” valuation figures, up by 500% to 600% which owners of struggling businesses are faced with.
He was one of those speaking at a heated meeting in Mullingar on Monday, to discuss the newly Proposed Valuation Certificates for their properties, and described them as “pure desktop analysis” by the Valuation Office “with no meaning at all”.
“How can premises that are looking for a tenant for three or four years, and getting no-one be valued at €12,000?” he asked. “It’s unreal, absolutely incredible and nonsense.”
Deputy Penrose, like Cllr. Paddy Hill in north Westmeath, and other local Councillors, are very angry over the new proposed Valuations and are advising people who are hard hit to appeal before 21 February against the valuation figures, and to talk to the Valuation people, who will be in the County Buildings in Mullingar next Monday or Tuesday, 30 and 31 January.
“Get professional advice from a specialist, or you will be loaded down with the like of this for 5 or 10 years,” the Ballynacargy TD warned.
Deputy Peter Burke agreed, saying the valuation must be commercial in terms of rental capacity and people needed to take action.
“A DISASTER”
Cllr. Paddy Hill (Castletown- Finea) said the new valuations issued to thousands of businesses last week are “a disaster for north Westmeath, if they remain unchallenged”.
Cllr. Hill said that in some cases, small rural shops were faced with increases of from €1,300 to €2,400 over their current figure “and will be forced to close, as a result.”
The veteran north Westmeath politician, who intends raising the issue at the next available County Council meeting, told Topic that the kind of method used in getting values for buildings in rural areas like north Westmeath was totally unrealistic. If these valuation figures remain, I can see disaster looming in places like Delvin, Collinstown, Castlepollard, Castletown-Finea and so on,” he said.
“They worked on the basis that such and such a building, if rented out, would make say, €12,000 or €13,000 annually, but that is nonsense in Collinstown, Castlepollard or Delvin. To work on that kind of a basis for rural areas is madness,” he said.
Cllr. Hill said that many small businesses are struggling at the present time, like the smaller post offices in rural areas, who are working for little or nothing.
“The smaller business people in rural villages and towns just won’t be able to meet these new rates demands, so I just can’t go along with this kind of thing. I am calling for a review of these Revaluations so that the figures are on the basis of the type of revenue business are generating in rural areas.
“How can shops in villages like Delvin, Collinstown, Finea or Castlepollard compete with huge businesses in Mullingar, owned by multinational companies, or be rated on the same kind of basis?” he asked.
Cllr. Bill Collentine said the new Valuation could not have come at a worse time for the businesses already struggling for eight or nine years. In the last six months of 2016, more companies went broke than in the previous years,” he warned.
MULLINGAR TOWN TEAM
Monday’s meeting in Mullingar of the Town Team spent much of its time discussing the Proposed Valuation Certificates, with businessman Des Walsh pointing out that nobody has the full picture yet, because the Annual Rate of Valuation (ARV) won’t be known till September next. “The Council’s figure is a notional 0.2, but that may be up or down.”
“The Council and Valuation Office say there’s nothing they can do about it at present, because nothing is definite. “I’m telling business people with figures which could mean big increases to appeal before 21 February,” he said. “After that you’re in the courts and it will cost money, so if you’re unhappy, make representations.”
Mr. Walsh said there is no upturn in country towns, no matter what politicians say, and it’s still in recession.
Cllr. Paul Hogan advised business people to visit the Valuation Office people in Mullingar, but to get advice from professionals and said that he had seen valuations which amount to 400% increases, which were totally off the wall.
BUSINESSES
When Topic spoke to business people in Delvin, Castlepollard, Collins-town, as well as Ballynacargy, they confirmed their shock at what is proposed. “My rates would be up €1,300, which would be terrible,” one man in Delvin told us.
Another Delvin businessman, who has upgraded his business, is facing the doubling of his rates, according to the revaluation he got.
“Try to make things improve, take on more, and you get crucified by rates,” was the reaction.
In Collinstown, a business rated under €700 per annum could now be facing a €2,400 bill each year.
In Mullingar, several business people have reckoned their rates will double and say it would destroy them.
In another small shop in Mullingar town, the owner estimates his rates will go up by 39%, and when he contacted the Council, annoyed, was informed that if he appealed, it could mean the new Revaluation could be higher, and was advised to accept it. He also estimated on the basis of the 0.2 figure produced by the Council – although this figure could be even higher – that this would mean a much higher rates total due.
Berty Dunne, Annebrook Hotel, said his business is valued on turnover rather than square feet. My rate would be up 20% but another local hotelier would be up 100 per cent, yet businesses were led to believe they would benefit from rates revaluation.
Willie Penrose said the 500% to 600% increases in Ballynacargy would wipe the village out. “It’s already stuttering to an inevitable demise, but this accelerates it, and I said this to the Taoiseach in the Dáil.”
People at the Mullingar meeting also said the County Council cannot evade responsibility, even if they won’t get extra money, because their customers are the ones being hit. “They collect the rates, so they are responsible locally.”
“I was told that this new revaluation was going to be revenue neutral, which means the government will still get the same money, but what about the shop owners?” Cllr. Hill stated. “How can they pay money they don’t have?”
Ms. Angela Maher, Town Team, advised people to ring the Valuation Office, give the portfolio number, and ensure they measure their premises themselves. Then go and talk to the people from the Valuation Office in Mullingar and get the information. They hope to invite some specialists in appealing valuations, she said.
