Ratepayers may be saddled with the council’s rising National Insurance bill?

WITHOUT help from central government, Causeway Coast and Glens council will have to find almost £1m to fund the increased cost of employers National Insurance.

And either the borough’s ratepayers will have to plug the gap or councillors will be forced to seek “efficiencies” across the services provide by their staff.

A hike in national insurance payments made by employers was announced by Chancellor Rachael Reeves last year.

The rate is rising from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent of each workers’ salary but, more significantly, the threshold at which payments start is reduced from £9,100 per year to £5,000

It’s all set to add around £900,000 to the council’s wage bill, the Chronicle understands.

And, so far, there has been no indication from Stormont on any potential reimbursement, according to Cloonavin's chief financial officer.

Read the full story in this week's Chronicle