The Local Property Tax in Kerry will remain unchanged for the next three years after councillors voted in favour of maintaining the existing 10 per cent over baseline rate.
They voted on a 19-13 majority for that option – with one councillor absent – despite having been asked by officials to consider a 15 per cent increase for the period from 2025 to 2029.
The 33 councillors have the power to increase the base rate by up to 15 per cent, reduce it by 15 per cent or leave it unchanged.
Kerry County Council CEO Martin O’Donoghue said there are projects being developed in the county with an estimated total current value of €70 million and match-funding had to be raised to meet the local contribution.
The meeting heard the Government had confirmed that no additional finance would be available to offset any cut in the LPT rate.
Cllr Norma Moriarty successfully proposed that the rate be increased by 10 per cent for the next three years which would, in effect, see it remain at this year’s level.
That move will result in additional income of €1.3 million for the council next year.
A commitment was given at the meeting that an additional €11,000 would be set aside for annual councillors’ allocations – currently set at €40,000 – which would see much of the Local Property Tax income being spent on a number of local projects.
Killanrey councillor Martin Grady said the vote would ensure a significant increase in the annual allocations to councillors which they would spent on minor but important local projects such as repairing footpaths, filling potholes and improving signage.
“It will see an extra €70,000 per year being spent in the Killarney Municipal District and that’s great news,” he told KillarneyToday.com.
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