Monaghan cathaoirleach casts deciding vote on lpt reduction

by Martin Shannon from the Monaghan County Council meeting

 

The Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Padraig McNally was forced to use his casting vote at today's meeting of the local authority, after elected members failed to decide on a Sinn Féin party motion to reduce the Local Property Tax for homeowners in the county by 7.5%.

Fianna Fail Cllr McNally told the meeting he was swayed in his decision following representations from the Steadfast Brass Band in his home-town of Carrickmacross, who had contacted him last night to ask if their usual funding of up to €3,000 would be available again in 2014.

Council Chief Executive Eugene Cummins had previously outlined how its government block grant would be reduced by whatever reduction in the tax Cllrs chose to imposed.

This, Mr Cummins said would in effect see up to €200,000 per year removed from the coffers of each Municipal District Authority if the elected members decided to reduce the tax imposed on local homeowners by the maximum amount of 15%.

Mr McNally reflected that without this funding, which could be used for local projects and to help local community organisation such as the Steadfast Band, many would simply cease to exist.

The vote to alter the Property Tax downward to 7.5% was proposed by Sinn Féin's Brian McKenna, and supported by his seven fellow elected party members, as well as Independent Cllr Seamus Treanor.

The Fine Gael party and three Fianna Fail Cllrs opposed the proposal.

Fianna Fail Cllr Seamus Coyle and Independent Cllr Paudge Connolly were not present at the meeting.

The members of Cavan County Council will vote to decide on whether to cut or maintain the local property tax at a special meeting to take place next Monday (September 29).