Port St Mary Commissioners up rates by 2%

Ratepayers in Port St Mary will see bills from the local authority go up by two per cent, to 338 pence in the pound.

The village commissioners agreed to the increase as a way of meeting rising costs applied by national government in staff wages, pensions, and waste charges.

Chair Dr Michelle Haywood says with ‘cost-saving measures and careful scrutiny of expenditure’ the authority hopes to deliver a balanced budget in the next financial year.

The rise is far less than the 5.2% increase introduced last year, which left many in the village concerned about the board’s financial management.

Much of this centred on the commissioners’ controversial decision to purchase Manxonia House for £190,000, a property the board has since agreed to sell.

The authority has predicted a surplus of just under £14,000 (£13,947) for year 2019/20, with an outlay of roughly £610,000, around half of which goes on salaries.

It expects to recoup an estimated £623,000, with the majority coming from rates and lettings.

Over the last year, the authority chose not to reintroduce kerbside recycling in the village due to the ‘considerable price implications’ a scheme would bring.

In a statement, the commissioners have outlined the need to spend £10,000 replacing work vehicles during the coming financial year; no other projects have been mentioned.