At a meeting on 12th February Ballymoney Council agreed its rates for 2010/2011. Domestic ratepayers will see their rates bill rise by 3.5%, which means that a rates bill for a house valued at £100,000 will increase by £23.10 (just under £2 per month); for a house valued at £150,000 the increase is £34.65 (less than £3 per month), while for a house valued at £200,000 the increase is £46.20 (just under £4 per month).

Speaking after the meeting Mayor, Alderman Frank Campbell, said: “It has been a difficult year, members and officers of Council have been under a lot of pressure and have had to make difficult decisions to keep the rate increase down.   Thanks to the good work of members and officers we have agreed a rate which means that domestic ratepayers face a rise of 3.5% on rates bills.” The Mayor concluded: “Despite facing rising costs for waste disposal and energy costs together with reduced income from investments and government grants Council has been able to protect services and jobs.  It has also been able to make provision to spend over £1.5M on new schemes in local communities.”