The Director of Finance Mr. Sean Malarkey delivered a presentation on the Local Property Tax with the proposal to maintain the LPT at the current rate for a 5 year period. He highlighted the current points:

·         For the 73% of property owners in Roscommon that are in Band 1 this amounts to 25c per property per week.

·         LPT was introduced in 2013 and revised valuations were brought in 1st November 2021 and the next national revision of property valuation bands will be after 2025.

·         100% of the money is retained within the county, any shortfall from the baseline allocation is met by the exchequer.

·         Local Authority variation is plus or minus 15% and the variation factor can now be set for longer than 1 year up to 5 years.

·         If a 5 year term is agreed, it can be reviewed in that period by Members, this will require public consultation and voting by Elected Members.

·         Public consultation for LPT was advertised from 15 Aug 2024 to 17 Sep 2024, no submissions were received.

·         The proposal is to maintain the current LPT rate at +15% for a 5 year period, as essential funding for Roscommon County Council.   It is used for GMA, Town Team, street cleaning and local roads funding.

Members discussed the following matters:

·         Fixing 5 years gives clear guidance to the Council on the level of funding, and also gives security to householders of the fees for the coming years.

·         The ability to review within the 5 year period is important for householders if the bands change, so that Roscommon County Council can respond.

·         Clarification was requested on the highest rate currently being paid in Roscommon.

·         The LPT has given the Council great stabilisation to help back up other nationally funded projects, as well as supporting Town Teams.

·         The importance of funding for verge trimming was highlighted by members.

·         Concerns were voiced on fixing for 5 years, and the potential to fix LPT for 1 year was discussed by some members.

Mr. Malarkey responded as follows on the discussion:

·         The highest rates currently being paid in Roscommon are:
6% of householders in Band 3 €315.00+€47.25
2% of householders in Band 4 €405.00+€60.75.

·         For the majority of householders it will be €90.00+€13.50 per year for 5 years, if the national bands don’t change.

It was PROPOSED by Cllr. Crosby and SECONDED by Cllr. Naughten to maintain the current LPT rate at +15% for a 5 year period.

It was PROPOSED by Cllr. Ward and SECONDED by Cllr. Waldron to maintain the current LPT rate at +15% for a 1 year period.

The Meetings Administrator took a vote on the counter-proposal to maintain the current LPT at +15% for a 1 year period.

The Meetings Administrator read the result of the vote:

5 for the counter-proposal

10 against the counter-proposal

3 absent

Cllr. Callaghan expressed to the Cathaoirleach that he made an error in voting for the counter-proposal and wished to correct his vote to against the counter-proposal.

For the record the correct count of the vote in relation to the counter-proposal is below:

4 for the counter-proposal

11 against the counter-proposal

3 absent

The Meetings Administrator took a vote on the proposal to maintain the current LPT at +15% for a 5 year period.

The Meetings Administrator read the result of the vote:

11 for the proposal

4 against the proposal

3 absent

The PROPOSAL WAS CARRIED that the Council will maintain the current LPT at +15% for a 5 year period.