GROUVILLE has finally set its rates for next year – more than two months after all other parishes – despite concerns from some residents about the hike.
At a meeting on Tuesday, parishioners voted to accept a rate of 1.11p per quarter – an increase of around 12%.
But some argued that in the current economic climate there should have been no increase at all.
Parish rates fund general expenses such as refuse and recycling collection and repairs to minor roads, and all households and land and business owners in a parish have to pay them. Each property is assessed to have a certain number of ‘quarters’ and these are used to calculate its bill.
The 1.11p per quarter rate was formally proposed and seconded at the meeting but some parishioners spoke forcefully against it.
Former accountant Caroline Anderson argued that the money the parish had saved in reserves should be used to offset any increase.
She said: ‘We should help parishioners during a very, very difficult time.
‘Some families have been asking for money for school shoes. Those parishioners are going to have to pay this.
‘I would urge you to think seriously about this, and not add to the tax burden to ratepayers at this time.’
Speaking in support of Ms Anderson’s proposal, parishioner Peter Hargreaves added: ‘This parish is very divided.’
But another former accountant, Rod Amy, defended the proposed increase, stating that now was not the time to ‘whittle away the reserves’ and instead the parish should be looking to preserve and ‘build them up’.
‘If we don’t put the rate up by a reasonable amount we will regret it in the future,’ Mr Amy added.
The proposed increase was put to a show of hands vote and was carried by a substantial majority.
By the beginning of October, Jersey’s 11 other parishes had all set their new rate. The largest increase was in St Clement, where it jumped from 0.89p per quarter to 1.01p – a rise of 13.48%.
That month a meeting of Grouville parishioners had voted down a proposed increase of 13% for their parish.
Grouville will be facing a bill of around £500,000 to pay for a new roof for the parish hall but Constable Mark Labey said he was hopeful it would not have to be funded through the rates. He said: ‘This will be the largest capital project undertaken in the parish’s history. I cannot promise it at this time, but I hope it can be completed without burdening ratepayers with the expense.’
