Respondents say no to area-based rates system

More than half of those who responded to a government consultation on rate reform say they don’t want to see the tax based on the footprint size of a property.

That’s according to the results of a Cabinet Office survey which received 364 responses and has now been published.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas will now release a report this Thursday (3 Oct) outlining his plan to modernise rates.

Changing the way rates are assessed was one of the key questions of the consultation, with 63 per cent opposed to a calculation based on square footage.

A narrow majority were for the idea of an all-Island business rate, with 53% supportive and 45% against.

You can view the full breakdown of responses online via the government website.