Every
household across Northern Ireland will receive a letter from the Valuation
and Lands Agency this summer informing us of the capital value of our
home and how much extra we will have to pay in rates and water charges.
The
government cynically chose the summer to send this information out to
householders hoping that it would not attract much publicity. But they
will be unable to avoid arousing anger in working class communities
against their rip-off policies.
Since the 70s rates were based on the rental value of property. Now
rates will be based on the capital value of property. Originally the
government said that this would only result in an increase in rates
for a small minority. But they have had to admit that at least 45% of
households will now face rates increases due to the new system.
This is on top of the 19% increase in rates for all households announced
this year. Next year this is set to rise again by 6%! That's the regional
rate. But what about the district rate? Each of the 26 district councils
across the North has increased the district rates also.
To rub salt into the wounds, the government has quite incredibly announced
that landlords who rent accommodation out to students don't have to
pay a penny in rates whatsoever! It is these same wealthy landlords,
many of whom own multiple properties, who are responsible for the speculation
which is pricing many working class people out of the housing market.
The new rating system will commence next April - at the same time water
charges are to be imposed. When the government first announced that
water charges were to be introduced in the North, they claimed that
we didn't pay for water.
Socialist Party members and the We Won't Pay Campaign then challenged
government representatives at meetings and in the media and highlighted
that householders pay for water through the regional rate and general
taxation. They were then forced to change their position and had to
admit reluctantly that we do pay for water. The introduction of water
charges is a double-tax. By increasing the rates on top of water charges,
householders are being hit three times.
The real agenda behind water charges is the privatisation of the water
service into Northern Ireland Water Ltd. It will operate as a private
company under the Companies Act legislation. None of the money raised
through water charges will go towards funding public services such as
health and education. It will remain in the new company and pay for
the big salaries of the new fat cat bosses who have been appointed to
run the company. After water charges have been fully-phased in, the
government will hand the ownership over to private companies. This is
where water charges will end up - in the pockets of wealthy shareholders.
But this all depends on everybody going along with the government and
agreeing to pay twice for water. The government's plans can be defeated
if a campaign of mass non-payment is built in advance of the charges
being introduced in April.
The
Socialist Party is playing a key role in building the We Won't Pay Campaign
in local communities across Northern Ireland, which is getting huge
support for our message of mass non-payment. Join the “We Won't
Pay Campaign” today - contact 90311778 for more details.
