Cork City Council votes for 10% cut to property tax

Cork City Councillors have voted to cut the local property tax by 10 per cent.

The vote in Cork City Hall on Tuesday night was 14 in favour of a 10 per cent reduction, 10 in favour of a 15 per cent reduction and four abstentions.

Sinn Féin Councillor Shane O’Shea told the meeting that a property tax cut for those in homes valued under €150,000 would deliver savings of €33 a year, or 23 sliced pans.

Sinn Féin and the Anti-Austerity Alliance had proposed a 15 per cent cut, Fianna Fail a 10 per cent cut while Fine Gael had proposed a 10 per cent increase.

Councillors initially voted on whether to adjust the rate or not. They voted 23 for, five against (one abstention) to adjust the rate. 28 of 31 councillors were in attendance.

There are 51,500 homes in Cork liable for the property tax, 79 per cent of these properties are valued at under €200,000. The council received just one submission when they sought the views of the public on the tax. The person recommended a tax cut.

It follows similar moves by other councils. Cork County Council recntly voted to cut the local property tax by 5 per cent for next year.