No change in Mayo property tax after council meeting today

A RECOMMENDATION to increase the Local Property Tax (LPT) by 15% has not been carried by the elected members of Mayo County Council this evening (Monday).

The increase sought would amount to 65 cents a week for people in the €100,000 - €150,000 valuation band (43.8% of the population), or 90 cents for those in the bracket up to €200,000 (38.6% of Mayo households).

Councillors neither voted for nor against the proposal, which would have raised in the region of €2.3 million, largely to be used to fund around 50 community projects as matching funding for grants received.

Chief executive Peter Hynes explained there was a funding gap. The choice was get some from LPT, or some from rates, or some from cutbacks come budget time. This was not simply about LPT.

The only proposal to come from the meeting was from Independent Councillor Richard Finn who suggested they meet the minister to discuss the lack of funding being received from central government. The block grant has not be increase for five years.

Councillors did not put forward any other proposal on the recommendation from the executive.

Ultimately, the council has until September 30 to make a decision on the finance director's recommendation.