Kerry council managers oppose property tax cuts

Senior management on Kerry County Council is opposed to any reductions in the Local Property Tax, though the council has the power to reduce it.

At a meeting in advance of forthcoming budget discussions, head of finance, Angela McAllen proposed a freeze on the unpopular tax for 2015, with a 1% increase each year after that for four years.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly recently included Kerry among local authorities which are in a position to cut the tax by 4.2% — which would leave the council in a break-even situation next year, with the same level of funding as 2014. Councils have the power to increase or decrease the property tax by 15%.