Late september decision on property tax cut

A final decision on whether Meath householders will receive a reduction in their Local Property Tax (LPT) is to be made at a meeting of Meath County Council in a fortnight’s time.
Councillors meeting this week agreed to set Tuesday 23rd September to debate a report from the council’s chief executive officer, Jackie Maguire, on the LPT.
They will have three options before them - to vary the basic rate and set a local adjustment factor that will apply for a period of one year from the next LPT liability date (councillors can reduce the LPT by up to 15 per cent); not vary the basic rate, or decide to consider the matter further at a subsequent meeting of the council to be held not later than 30th September this year.
Fianna Fail whip on the council, Cllr Shane Cassells, claimed that the people of Meath had been “hoodwinked” by the government in relation to the LPT because cuts to other strands of funding would leave them with no extra revenue to pump back into local communities.
“The bottom line here is that it would appear Meath County Council would have the exact same income next year and no more.
“So the LPT will not derive any additional income for us as the Local Government Fund (LGF) would be cut, pro rata,” he said.
“If we suffer cuts to other strands of funding, then the income from the LPT will only be used to pay the wages of the staff currently employed and keep the show on the road with no additional funds for parks or playgrounds,” he added.