Limerick councillors vote to increase LPT by 10%

Limerick councillors have voted to increase the Local Property Tax by 10% in 2017.

This will see those currently in the €90 band pay €99 while higher bands will increase to €236.50 and €346.50.

The increase will bring in an additional €1.56m in revenue for Limerick City and County Council next year, bringing to approximately €18m the total from the property tax.

At a meeting at County Hall this Monday, the 10% increase was proposed by Fianna Fail and seconded by Fine Gael.

Sinn Fein's Cllr Seamus Browne proposed a reduction of 15%, the most allowed under legislation.

"We want to abolish this unfair and unjust tax as it is not a replacement for proper funding for local authorities," he said.

"It doesn't take into account people's ability to pay," Cllr Seighin O'Ceallaigh said, seconding the proposal.

Cllr Cian Prendiville AAA said not to support the reduction would be a breach of councillors' democratic mandate and demanded that the general purpose grant, scrapped by the government, should be reinstated.

Supporting the increase, Cllr John Sheahan said it was the responsible thing to do. "It is easy to say no," he said But no alternative had been offered.

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