Starting next week, a series of regional community meetings will take place for the public to find out about the proposed modernisation of the Island’s rates system.
A review of the rates system forms part of the Programme for Government, which was unanimously approved by Tynwald in April 2017.
The community meetings will be led by Minister for Policy and Reform, Chris Thomas MHK, who will be bringing the proposals to the October sitting of Tynwald.
It follows a public consultation earlier this year, with a summary of responses published today.
The report containing the proposals will be published on Thursday 3 October – before the first information session – as part of the Tynwald Order Paper for October.
There will be four sessions in different parts of the Island:
- Friday 4 October, 6 – 7:30pm at Castle Rushen High School in Castletown
- Monday 7 October, 6 – 7:30pm at Queen Elizabeth II High School in Peel
- Tuesday 8 October, 6 – 7:30pm at St Ninian’s Lower School (Bemahague) in Onchan
- Wednesday 9 October, 6 – 7:30pm at Ramsey Grammar School, West
Minister Thomas said:
‘The current rates system in the Isle of Man dates back to the 1960s and has been in need of modernisation for some time. The proposed changes are likely to affect many parts of our community, so I hope the meetings will attract a good attendance.
‘I look forward to meeting people from around the Island and speaking to them about what will be proposed.’
