WEST Somerset District Council has extended its discretionary rate relief scheme for businesses hit by the effects of the foot and mouth crisis.
To date, reduced rates have cost the authority around £15,000 but councillors believe more still needs to be done to help firms recover.
"Although foot and mouth is seen by the rest of the country to be over, it is certainly not going to be over for our communities until they see some real income coming in over the next few month.
"There is no point having businesses shut down now having got them this far," finance portfolio holder Cllr Colin Hill told Monday's meeting of the cabinet.
Councillors were told there were also real hopes that West Somerset could be given special status and officially recognised by the Government as an area in need of additional support.
Revenues and benefits manager Adrian Dyer said consultations were still ongoing but the council had at least got to the stage of "knocking on the Government's door" rather than being shut out completely.