Limerick Council rejects 25% LPT increase, keeps 15% rate

At a full meeting of Limerick City and County Council on Monday, councillors voted down Mayor John Moran’s proposal to vary the Local Property Tax (LPT) by 25 per cent for the 2027‑2029 period.

The mayor had outlined that a maximum 25 per cent variation could affect the 2027 LPT allocation by €4,228,000, while a 15 per cent increase on the base rate would amount to €2,536,800. He warned that unfunded demands – including construction‑related inflation, additional homelessness funding, road resources, housing maintenance and reduced regeneration funding – could limit services if the rate were cut.

Sinn Féin councillor Sharon Benson argued that LPT is an “unfair tax” with no clear spending transparency, and said her party would not support any increase above the base rate. Fine Gael councillor John Sheahan queried whether the party would keep the tax at the 2026 baseline, to which Benson replied they would not back any rise.

Mayor Moran offered to step up and said the government’s upcoming budget could alleviate the need for a higher rate, but he maintained the 25 per cent variation was the “least best option”. Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Collins highlighted service shortfalls in his Newcastle West district, and Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey echoed concerns about potholes and inadequate services.

The motion to raise the variation by 25 per cent was defeated 37 votes against, two for (Mayor Moran and Cllr Eddie Ryan) and one abstention (Cllr Frankie Daly). A subsequent vote to retain the 2026 baseline of a 15 per cent variation passed 23 to 7.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Christian Wasserfallen / Pexels.