CITY CLLRS CALL ON GOVERNMENT NOT TO IMPOSE PROPERTY TAX ON LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSES

Date Published: 11-Dec-2012

City Cllrs have unanimously passed a motion calling on the government not to impose a property tax on local authority houses or houses provided by voluntary bodies.

The motion was proposed by Cllr Catherine Connolly and seconded by Cllr Collette Connolly at a special meeting of the local authority as the draft budget for 2013 was debated.

Members were advised by Finance Director Edel McCormack that the local authority was advised on Friday that it would be liable for payment of the property tax in relation to its social housing stock.

City Manager Joe O’Neill advised that it would be prudent to make provision for it in the 2013 budget which would equate to 189 thousand euro.

He said that there is a shortage of information from the Department at the moment with no mention of tenants or recouping money.

However, Cllr Catherine Connolly says it’s unfair to pass on the tax to tenants and has asked other local authorities to take note and follow suit.