Property tax decision is welcomed

FINGAL County Council chief executive Paul Reid has welcomed the decision of councillors at its monthly meeting to retain the 10 per cent reduction in Local Property Tax for 2019.

The decision will mean a continuation of the “improved level of services being provided to communities”.

Councillors have the option each year to make an adjustment in the Local Property Tax of up to 15 per cent and, after becoming the first Dublin Local Authority to apply a 10 per cent reduction last year, the elected members in Fingal voted by 25 votes to 13 to accept a motion to retain the 10 per cent reduction.

“I welcome the decision of the elected members to retain the 10 per cent reduction,” said Mr Reid. 

“Like last year, this will yield €2 million in funding which will be ring-fenced for housing and homelessness and local services.

“I am pleased that the councillors did not proceed to consideration of motions for greater reductions that would have resulted in cuts to services in order to balance our budget.

“There were detailed engagements over the past few weeks and months with the Corporate Policy Group and the various political parties and groupings in which the council’s management team showed the benefits of having €2 million extra to spend on local projects.”

Mr Reid added: “Once again our councillors have shown they are prepared to put the interests of the county first which is in keeping with the leadership they have shown in other areas, especially in our response to the housing crisis.”