Tipperary businesses to face commercial rates increase in council budget
Commercial rates across Tipperary are expected to rise as councillors are due to vote on the council’s budget for 2026 on Friday, November 28.
In the draft budget, seen by the Irish Independent, Tipperary County Council chief executive Sinéad Carr has recommended a 5pc increase in commercial rates in order for the council to be able to meet their financial obligations.
The other area that the council could use to raise funds is through an increase in the Local Property Tax (LPT), which councillors voted to increase by 15pc over the next three years at last year’s budget meeting.
Tipperary County Council’s levy on commercial rates is among the lowest in the country, the draft budget states, with just four counties with lower commercial rates.
"In order to meet the ever-increasing cost of providing services, cover increased costs of doing business and provide additional services as required, it is recommended that Tipperary County Council increase their ARV (annual rate on valuation) by 5pc in 2026,” Ms Carr said.
“The proposed increase would still ensure that our ARV in Tipperary would remain one of the lowest in the country,” Ms Carr added.
Pointing to higher costs for energy, heat, power, and goods and services, the council chief executive said that these costs have been absorbed by Tipperary County Council for a number of years, leading to a reduction in services on the ground.
Despite the proposal to increase rates on businesses across the county, Ms Carr says she is aware of the pressures facing businesses.
"The council executive is very aware of the impact of ongoing costs to businesses and the challenges they have to face because we too have to face the same challenges,” she said.
If the measure to increase commercial rates is passed at Friday’s budget meeting, Ms Carr said that Tipperary County Council will remain committed to supporting businesses in as far as they can.
"As a Council, we will continue to do all we can to support businesses,” she added.
In order to boost Tipperary’s appeal to tourists, an increased spend is needed on the county’s tourism product, according to the draft budget, which the budget has allowed for.
An allocation has been included in Budget 2026 to allow Tipperary Council to begin the process of borrowing monies to part fund investment in decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects, as well as an increase in funding for strategic workforce planning, burial grounds and libraries.