The possibility of a cut in property tax for hard hit homeowners in Tipperary seemed to dissipate in recent weeks when figures from the Department of the Environment revealed that the take from the tax in the county was far lower than was required to actually run services here and in fact the council would need to be funded by other counties such as Clare and Dublin to bring the levels up.
Stats released by the Local Authority yesterday revealed that any attempt to cut the rate would indeed have a negative impact – with very little apparent gain.
Councillors voted by 29 to 10 to maintain the status quo after being told that a 15 per cent reduction would only benefit householders to the tune of 58 cent a week while at the same time hitting essential services such as housing and road maintenance, the arts, burial grants and Christmas lights funding.
Fianna Fail Councillor John Hogan who put forward the motion to retain the current level described the decision as a “no brainer” – something echoed by Fianna Fail’s Siobhan Ambrose pointing out that Tipp is getting the second highest amount under the equalisation fund. The cut would lead to a shortfall in excess of €1 million.
However Independent Councillor Jim Ryan disagrees saying many people are already at their wits end coping with the property tax with water charges looming. He accused some councillors of scaremongering about a treat to services – he wanted the promised €6 million saving from the merging of North and South Tipp County Councils to be used to cut the property tax.
But CEO of Tipperary County Council Joe McGrath insists the figures speak for themselves.
In order to run the county and ensure that services are maintained €22.76 million is required from central government of which around €9.8 million comes from Tipperary property owners leaving a deficit of almost €13 million.
