Tax non-payment is a 'grassroots rebellion'

Less than a third of Westmeath householders have paid the Household Charge in what local campaigners are calling a "grassroots rebellion" against the government.According to the latest available figures from the Department of the Environment, as of April 16 only 10,067 (32.75%) of Westmeath's 30,739 eligible households had paid the controversial precursor to a property tax.These latest figures do not include the householders that have paid Westmeath County Council directly and attempts to get an update from the local authority have proved unsuccessful.The low take-up in Westmeath and around the country could mean a funding shortfall for local authorities as the government had hoped that the €100 charge would replace its contribution to the Local Government Fund, which in 2011 was €164m.Last year, the exchequer contributed €17,380,208 to the running of Westmeath County Council.Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Mags Glennon of the Mullingar branch of the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT), said people in Westmeath were expressing their displeasure at government policies through the non-payment of the Household Charge."It's a grassroots rebellion. It has to be more than the fact that people can't pay - they are making a political point," said Ms Glennon.She added that "everyone has a reason for not paying", whether it's their anger at the bank bailout or the direction that Europe is headed.The CAHWT is holding a meeting on Thursday May 10 at 8pm in the Newbury Hotel, Mullingar.A large presence from the Mullingar area is expected at the protest rally hosted by the Athlone CAHWT this Saturday May 12 at 3.30pm in St Peter's Square, Athlone.Speakers are TDs Clare Daly and Luke 'Ming' Flanagan.A national CAHWT conference takes place on Saturday May 19 for activists and members to discuss the current state of the campaign and plan the future. It is a policy-making conference, rather than rally-type as previous events.