A group of businesses says it will stop paying rates if there is not a rates reduction.
The Donegal Business Rates Reduction Campaign says it needs a reduction in rates if businesses are to survive.
Spokesman Charlie Ferry says they have received massive support for their campaign with more than 600 signatures who pay rates signing up to their campaign.
The campaign is being backed by TD Charlie McConalogue.
Donegal County Council is due to hold its budgetary meeting this Wednesday with County Manager Seamus Neely suggesting a rates freeze.
But many businesses say that is not enough and a reduction will allow many businesses some breathing space to survive tough economic conditions.
The following is a letter from Charlie Ferry outlining the situation for many businesses across the county which was sent to county councillors.
Donegal Business Rates Reduction Campaign
Main Street,
Ballybofey,
Co. Donegal
10.12.2013.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you in my capacity as Chairman of the Donegal Business Rates Reduction Campaign to actively seek your support with our campaign to seek a substantial decrease in commercial rates in Donegal for 2014.
As a business network we have now met on several occasions since early June with representations from the four corners of the County, culminating in us meeting the county manager and two of his colleagues in Lifford on the 28th of November. Mr Neely welcomed the interaction and took on board the widespread concerns that we conveyed to him on behalf of the businesses right across Donegal. He is reverting back to us when he gets concrete details of his local government figures for the forthcoming year.
We fully realise that you our locally elected councillor hold the key to a lot of the decisions that will be made at the budget meeting in Lifford on December 18th so we are asking that you and your party to come out and support us the business community in advance of this meeting.
To date we are very disappointed by the level of support we have received from you our local councillors and ask that you take the time to read the attached document which we presented to Mr Neely on the day of our meeting.. Ultimately we are all business people and fully realise that the books have to be balanced in Lifford but looking at some of the stats around our County we are being dealt an unfair hand which if it continues will undoubtedly force more businesses to shut.
To date we have over 600 signatures on our County wide petition to drive rates down and at our most recent meeting we passed unanimously a motion to forgo all rate payments across the County for 2014.
I trust you will take our concerns on board and revert back to us with your support as at this stage I genuinely believe that the County councillors don’t fully realise the extent of the concerns the 3000 rate payers face on a day to day basis in the County.
I look forward to your response
Regards
_____________
Charlie Ferry.