Chair says Castletown rates rise driven "solely" by government charges

Local authority says its own rates and refuse charges have been reduced for 2026/27 fiscal year

The chair of Castletown Town Commissioners says increases in household rates bills for the 2026/27 financial year are due to higher government charges rather than decisions taken by the local authority itself.

In a statement, the chair says several residents had contacted him after noticing their overall bills had increased, despite the commissioners previously announcing reductions in town rates and charges.

He says the authority had reduced its general town rate by 3p in the pound, from 398p to 395p, for the current financial year.

The annual fixed refuse charge has also been reduced from £230 to £220 per household.

However, the statement says government-set charges have risen, with the government water rate increasing by 8.6p in the pound and the sewage rate increasing by 7.9p in the pound.

Tony Brown insists the increases appearing on residents’ bills "solely lie with government decisions" relating to services funded through the rates system.