Cllrs vote to raise Local Property Tax

A maximum 15% hike in local property tax for the next five years was passed by 11 votes to six at a meeting of Westmeath County Council on Monday.

Members were told that the increase will be less than €2 a month for most households and the monies will be ringfenced for traffic calming, public lighting, improvements to the homes of the elderly, recreational and community facilities and events.

Barry Kehoe, CE, assured the members that the increase would be ring fenced for specific initiatives. He said local authority tenants do not pay LPT and the increase will be less than €2 per month for most people, but it will give the council a stronger budget and enable them to provide better service.

Cllr Vinny McCormack proposed the increase on the understanding that it would be spent on traffic calming and public lighting in towns and villages, speeding up improvements to the homes of the elderly, and ensuring that facilities such as the Regional Sports Centre go ahead, and library and other recreational services are enhanced.

“If I can get a firm commitment that these issues will be a priority, I will be happy to go with the 15% increase”, he said.

He was seconded by Cllr Niall Gaffney who felt the additional monies would be of major benefit to every community.

Cllr Michael Dollard proposed they “leave it as it is”. He said he deals with marginalised people daily and warned “it won’t go down well with them”.

Cllr Kevin “Boxer” Moran seconded Cllr Dollard saying the timing was wrong with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste both talking about the cost-of-living crisis.

“The State wants to announce a giveaway budget and we want to take it back”, he said. “Postpone it for two or three years, until we come out of this turmoil, give people time”, he implored.

Cllr Denis Leonard said he could not support the increase because there was no commitment to spending it in rural areas.

Cllr David Jones also felt rural areas were not getting their fair share – Mullingar got €20,000 for Christmas lights last year, Delvin got €500, he remarked. “Until I see the benefits in rural Ireland, I won’t be supporting an increase in LPT,” he declared.

Michael Hand, director of finance, said the council raises about €6.9m annually in LPT and this is brought up to €12.7m with equalisation funding from the exchequer. The 15% increase would bring another €1.03m a year into the council’s coffers.

For almost half the households paying LPT, the increase will be €14 a year with other bands increasing by €34, €47, and €61 a year respectively.

Those who voted in favour of the increase were Aengus O’Rourke, Andrew Duncan, Aoife Davitt, Emily Wallace, Frankie Keena, John Dolan, Liam McDaniel (chairman), Niall Gaffney, Tom Farrell, Vinny McCormack and Bill Collentine. Those who voted against were David Jones, Denis Leonard, Jonny Penrose, Julie McCourt, Kevin “Boxer” Moran and Michael Dollard.