Councillors split on decision to back LPT increase

Tipperary homeowners will contribute an additional 1.2 million Euro in Local Property Tax next year.

It follows the decision of 22 County Councillors to back a 10% hike in the LPT while 14 voted against it.

There were heated exchanges and a lengthy adjournment during this months meeting of the local authority on the proposal to increase the rate for 2018.

80% of the Local Property Tax collected in Tipperary will be retained in the county – this amounts to around €9½ million which is then topped up to the tune of €16½ million by the Equalisation Fund from other local authorities.

Fine Gael’s Mary Hannah Hourigan proposed the 10% increase on the proviso that half of it would go towards the General Municipal Allocation.

Opponents of an increase in the Local Property Tax say people in Tipperary are being forced to bail out the Government.

Sinn Féin representative Seamie Morris says this money should be coming from central government.