The Local Property Tax (LPT) is set to increase by 5% in Laois after County Councillors were close to unanimous in their support of the proposal.
The increase will mean those under the €200,000 threshold see their LPT increase by €4.50 per year, from the current rate of €99 to €103.50 per annum.
This increase will affect 17,873 households, representing over 55% of the total households in the County.
Those in the €200,000 to €262,500 bracket will see their LPT increase by €11.25, from €247.50 to €258.75.
This increase will affect 9,066 households, representing over 28% of the total households in the County.
The rest of the increases are as follows:
- €262,501 – €350,000 bracket, up by €15.75, from €346.50 to €362.25;
- €350,001 – €437,500 bracket up by €20.25, from €445.50 to €465.75;
- €437,501 – €525,000 bracket up by €24.75, from €544.50 to €569.25;
- €525,001+ bracket up by €29.25, from €643.50 to €672.75+.
Acting Chief Executive of Laois County Council, Mr Simon Walton, presented the proposal to the elected members.
Mr Walton outlined ongoing increases in costs for the Council to maintain and to expand the provision of local services.
These include Public Lighting, Housing Stock Management, Libraries, Road Maintenance, and Burial Grounds.
Mr Walton highlighted the need for further investment into playgrounds, Government grant applications, Portlaoise and Portarlington Leisure Centres, Town Teams, and county enterprise.
Several councillors voiced their support for the Property Tax increase, with only one voice standing against the proposal.
Sinn Féin Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley said she would not support the proposed increase, saying she believed the funds could instead be raised by cost-cutting within the County Council.
Cllr Dwane Stanley sited the use of consultants and contractors by the Council as a possible means of “trying to cut waste.”
The Sinn Féin Councillor said she believes the Council would “get more value for money by hiring staff in” to do the jobs, rather than outsourcing the work.
“Some of the contractors out there are ripping us off,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
Newly Independent Councillor Aidan Mullins supported the calls for in-house cost-cutting measures, but insisted they should be done in conjunction with the increased Property Tax.
Several Councillors joined Cllr Mullins in voicing their support for the increase, including Fianna Fáil Councillor Paschal McEvoy; Fine Gael Councillors John King, Conor Bergin and Willie Aird; Labour Councillor Marie Tuohy; and Independent Councillors James Kelly, Aisling Moran and Ollie Clooney.
None of the remaining nine Councillors responded either negatively or positively, leaving Cllr Dwane Stanley alone in her opposition to the increase.
The proposal therefore passed without a vote.
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