Property tax rise just a sneaky way of reintroducing house rates

SIR,

It was interesting to learn that one of the first actions taken by our newly elected councillors was a vote on the Local Property Tax.

This new tax was, of course, a sneaky way to reintroduce House Rates that had been removed many years ago.

While those who voted in favour of the proposed 10-per-cent increase did so probably with the best of intentions it is, I feel, but a taste of what is to come in the years ahead.

I could be wrong, of course, and if next year they decide to reduce the tax by 15 per cent, they will receive my apologies.

Those who voted in favour of the 10-per-cent increase were Fianna Fáil’s Breandán Fitzgerald, Fionnán Fitzgerald, Jimmy Moloney, Norma Moriarty, Mikey Sheehy and Mayor of Kerry Niall Kelleher; Fine Gael’s Seamus Cosaí Fitzgerald, Mike Foley, Mike Kennelly, Bobby O’Connell and Aoife Thornton; Labour’s Marie Moloney and Terry O’Brien; Kerry Independent Alliance’s Michael Gleeson; and Independents Dan McCarthy and Niall O’Callaghan.

Those who voted against were Sinn Féin’s Robert Beasley, Pa Daly and Toiréasa Ferris; Fianna Fáil’s Michael Cahill, John Francis Flynn and Norma Foley; and Independents Brendan Cronin, Charlie Farrelly, Sam Locke, Jackie Healy-Rae, Johnny Healy-Rae and Maura Healy-Rae.

The five councillors absent when the vote was taken were Tom Barry (Sinn Féin), Patrick O’Connor Scarteen (Fine Gael), Jim Finucane (Fine Gael), Donal Grady (Independent) and Michael D O’Shea (Fianna Fáil).

I will be printing a list of those who voted for the increase and will pin it on my door at the next election.

The notice will say: ‘If your name appears on the list that voted for this increase, do not bother to ring the bell. You will not be voted for.

‘If you voted against, you are welcome to come in for a chat and a cup of tea.

‘If you were absent then I want to hear why you were not there, and your excuse had better be good.’

I am amazed that there has not been more of a response to this action. Perhaps they are complacent because the amount is modest. It may not remain so in the coming years. People should realise that this is a new rates tax, and rebel against it.

They showed what could be done during the water-charges protests. Perhaps we need a Local Property protest to focus the councillors’ minds.

Time will tell.

Sincerely,

Michael O’Meara,

Faha,

Killarney.