Time to “pack your load and be on the road” to Dublin or overseas as our combined Tipperary Councillors were forced to vote 29 to 10, to maintain the current status quo, thus clarifying that there will be no reduction in Tipperary’s Local Property Tax for next year.
Figures published by the Department of the Environment have revealed in recent weeks that revenues from the property tax here in Co Tipperary was far lower than was actually required to run our county’s basic services.
Tipperary Councillors were therefore forced to vote to maintain the status quo, having being told that a 15% reduction would only benefit householders to the tune of €0.58 per week, but would further constitute a reduction in existing essential funding required to provide services like road maintenance, housing, burial grants, arts grants, burial grants and annual Christmas lighting.
Despite the forecast of a €6 million Euro saving made from the merging of North and South Tipp County Councils earlier this year, Tipperary stands to acquire the second highest amount under Equalisation Funding.
Tipperary County Council’s CEO Mr Joe MacGrath confirmed that to meet Tipperary’s financial burden and ensure that services are basically maintained, €22.76 million will be required from central government. While only €9.8 million is collected from Tipperary property owners, this estimate demonstrates a €13 million deficit in our county’s finances or €7 million less than Dublin expects to spend on cleaning up our capital’s image and designing that new logo for the city.
This is what happens to a community left totally ignored by government, due to all emerging employment prospects being conferred on just a few areas and with about 10 councils nationally only able to introduce a 15% cut in property tax next year, without harming their existing services.
A 10% reduction in Tipperary Councillors wages would help a little.