Property tax in Mayo to remain unchanged

THE Local Property Tax (LPT) in Mayo will remain at its current rate for the next two years.

Fine Gael has proposed a 25% reduction ahead of a meeting of Mayo County Council today.

There are 59,300 properties registered for LPT in Mayo. Two-thirds of them are in the lowest valuation band.

Members were told that the maximum variation allowed - 15% - would result in a change of €1.29 million.

Ultimately a proposal by FG's Councillor Peter Flynn to reduce by 15% was put to a vote. It was rejected by the Fianna Fáil members plus five Independents, who are in the majority on the council.

FF's Councillor Damien Ryan proposed the rate remain unchanged, saying it guaranteed continuity of services. He didn't want to see them having to review, cut or withdraw services and schemes, which would have a catastrophic impact.

He also pointed out that the review of valuation bands had meant significant savings for many houses in the county.

However, Councillor Flynn said these were unprecedented times and people had never faced a winter with such uncertainty.

His colleague Councillor Donna Sheridan spoke about a man who has €25 to feed himself each week. “People are really suffering,” she said.

Chief executive Kevin Kelly explained how a 15% reduction was equal to the amount the council allocates in GMA funding.

Councillor Ryan said one balanced the other and his proposal guaranteed this funding, which is badly needed in communities.

Independent Councillor Christy Hyland said the government should reduce VAT on fuel, which would benefit everyone, with another Independent, John O'Malley, saying home heating is what is crippling home owners.

“France and Germany have opened their coal mines, and we can't make a peat briquette here,” he commented.