Local Property Tax (LPT) in Laois is to be increased by 10 per cent following an agreement by members of Laois County Council this afternoon (Monday).
The Fianna Fail and Fine Gael members of the council voted in favour of the increase of the tax, which will provide an extra €492,000 for funding across the council.
The increase will see the majority of homeowners pay an extra €9 per year, or 75 cent per month.
Those paying property tax of 225 per year will end up paying an additional €22.50 a year, or €1.88 per week.
However, reservations were expressed that a figure of €120,000 is to be set aside to fund legal costs for possible legal proceedings against the council by wind energy companies by way of judicial review.
This legal challenge follows a decision by members of Laois County Council to effectively designate Laois as a windfarm-free zone.
This decision was subsequently over-ruled by the Minister for Environment.
As part of the agreement to increase the LPT, commercial rates will not increase in Laois for the coming year.
Independent members of the council had a counter proposal not to increase the LPT, but the increase was carried on a vote of 11 for and 4 against.
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