From this week’s Galway City Tribune – A Green Party motion to increase Local Property Tax (LPT) in the city by 15% was roundly rejected by councillors on Monday.

Local representatives voted to retain the status quo amid fears that the rising cost of living was already biting – and an increased LPT bill would only worsen the situation.

13 of the 15 councillors present voted in favour of accepting the Council Executive’s recommendation that the rate remain the same, with only Councillors Niall Murphy and Martina O’Connor of the Green Party voting against.

Instead, both councillors backed Cllr Murphy’s own motion that the maximum increase of 15% be applied.

Cllr Murphy said like everyone else, he was “very concerned” about the cost of living crisis, but he said such increases applied to everyone – those who owned property and those who did not.

Cllr Mike Cubbard (Ind) said: “I think you’re on a different planet if you think now is the time to increase property tax. Everyone is struggling, whether you own a property or not.”

(Photo: Green Party councillor, Niall Murphy, who proposed an increase to Local Property Tax).

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