"15% LPT increase is just not on" – Mayo Independent councillor
Recently elected Castlebar-based councillor Harry Barrett has stated, “I'll be voting against this unfair increase in the property tax because it comes in the middle of a cost of living crisis and is unfair on pensioners on fixed and indeed on those who are on low incomes,"
Barrett was speaking on the ahead of the general meeting of Mayo County Council where a proposed increase of 15% in the Local Property Tax will be put before elected members of the Council.
Barrett continued, " How can we ask pensioners who are on fixed incomes I'm dealing with a cost of living crisis to pay an extra 15%, despite no increase in their ability to pay?
I, and many of my independent colleagues cannot stand over this.
"Also, many are asking me about the lack of services in rural areas. Many complain about the condition of roads and the lack of hedge maintenance and indeed the total lack of outdoor staff nowadays. The question the value for money element of all of this.
"There has to be a fairer budget solution applied here by government. We learned today from figures given by the North and West Regional Assembly that despite us having 20% of the country's population in this region we only receive 10% of the public contracts.
This contrasts with the East and Midland region that receives 67% of the public contracts with 50% of the population. This is grossly unfair and points a finger as a government that is still not treating the West with any fairness or equity.
Our region is also classified as underdeveloped by the EU as we are only earning 75% of the average EU income. So people's ability to pay this increase is badly affected and instead of taxing us out the door, this government should step up and make extra provision for counties within the North and West region that have suffered from massive capital imbalances for years.
In this context, I cannot support a 15% increase which is making the people pay for lack of government investment over many years and is asking us to pay more to cover the shortfall.
I would advise government councillors to support their Independent colleagues by voting against this proposal that is just papering over the cracks of regional imbalances"