Anti-LPT Mythen accused of piggybacking on good press
SINN FEIN councillor John Mythen was accused of piggybacking on Wexford County Council’s good press when he is unwilling to support increases to Local Property Tax (LPT) charges.
Councillors were asked to approve keeping the tax at 10 per cent base rate at the body’s monthly meeting, but over a dozen members voted to reduce the tax.
Cllr Mythen called for a 3 per cent decrease, saying: ‘We still think it’s a regressive tax. There is a review coming up shortly and the price of properties have increased by as much as 11 per cent.’
Cllr Malcolm Byrne took grave exception to the comment.
He said: ‘This is playing to the gallery. He did this last year and then he voted for the budget which included the increase and Johnny will be the first councillor in every single photo opportunity. The rest of us take the tough decision to vote for the funding and he will go out and claim that he voted for a tax decrease. You either say you support the investment by Wexford County Council in the county or you don’t, but don’t turn up and claim credit for the investment.’
Cllr Mythen said he wouldn’t engage in personal politics, saying it is Sinn Fein policy to request a 3 per cent decrease in the tax.
‘We are a democratic country and we are entitled to follow our policy.’
Cllr Mythen, along with around a dozen councillors including his Sinn Fein colleagues, voted against the 10 per cent tax but they lost by majority vote.
Cllr Byrne said: ‘I assume those who opposed the tax will be indicating in the budget what services they want to cut.’