Executive wants councillors to raise LPT by 10%

Westmeath County Council's executive wants county councillors to raise the Local Property Tax by 10 per cent at the monthly meeting for September, which takes place tomorrow (Monday) afternoon.

The executive estimates that a 10 per cent increase of the LPT will bring in an additional €617,000 next year.

If councillors rubber stamp the executive's recommendation homeowners in Band 1 (property value €0 - €200,000) would have to pay an additional €9, bringing their LPT charge for 2023 up from €90 to €99; homeowners in Band 2 (€200,001 - €262,500) would have to pay an additional €22 bringing their charge up to €247; Band 3 (€262,502 - €350,000) will have to pay an extra €31, bringing their change up €346; while Band 4 (over €350,000) homeowners will have to pay a minimum of €40 more depending on the value of their property, bringing their annual payment up to at least €445.

The executive says that raising the LPT by 10 per cent “would assist greatly in bringing forward a budget which maintains current services and community supports, respond to local needs and priorities, and invest in the continued development of the county”.

The executive says that the council faces a range of “challenges” in 2023, including: energy prices, inflation, public sector pay, no “buoyancy” from LPT, climate action and the council's contribution to the running costs of Fleadh 2023.

According to the council's own figures, 49.3% of homeowners live in Band 1 properties - meaning that they are valued at below €200,000, 28.9% live in Band 2 properties, 14.5% live in Band 3 properties and 7.3% live in Band 4 properties.

Last year, councillors decided to reject the executive's recommendation to increase the LPT by 15 per cent. In 2020, councillors voted to increase the tax by 15 per cent.