A motion to slash the controversial property tax by 15 per cent will be put forward by Sinn Féin councillors at this afternoon’s Galway City Council meeting.
SF councillor Mairéad Farrell said the Local Property Tax “is little more than another austerity tax which will push many struggling families over the edge”, and was a “key issue raised at doors” during the recent election campaign.
Local authorities have it within their power to reduce the tax by up to 15 per cent, but given the tax is officially to raise funds for the State’s councils, there may be opposition to the motion from City Hall officials and Government councillors.
However Cork County Council already accepted a similar motion last week, while yesterday’s Sunday Business Post outlined that the money raised by the property tax was more than three times the amount allocated by central Government to Galway City Council through the government grant.
“It is vital a message is sent to central Government that its policy of austerity is politically bankrupt and is bankrupting the country,” Cllr Farrell said. “Many local election candidates, now councillors, mentioned their opposition to austerity during the recent election campaign; I hope they keep this promise and vote in favour of this motion.”
The meeting at City Hall takes place today at 4pm in City Hall, College Road.
