The chairman of Braddan Commissioners has spoken out about potential rates reform.

Changing the way the island’s rates, which fund local authorities, are collected and distributed was mooted earlier this year by government.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas announced a number of ideas in Tynwald during a speech on rates modernisation, which included changes to both business and domestic rating.

He’s due to report back to the Court in October on the progress of new legislation designed to tackle the issue.

A tax based on the gross valuation of your property as assessed in 1969, rates are used by local authorities to provide services

Andrew Jessop, the chairman of Braddan Commissioners, is wary about ’swapping one unfair rating system for another’.

He says he is worried government may skim off rates from some local authorities, and create an ’additional layer of bureaucracy’ that would require commissioners to ’bid’ for funding.

Braddan residents pay 200p in the pound in rates, which is low compared to other authorities of a similar size.

Douglas Council has pointed out that its income has been hit after businesses moved out of town and set up at the Cooil in Braddan.