COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 11, 2013

MOTION NO. 7

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

That this Council being of the view that the Household Property Tax as set out will not be in the best interests of the Households of the County, that it will not achieve what it sets out to achieve and that it may well be perceived as another form of income tax, calls on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to revisit the fundamentals of the proposed tax so that: (a) The premise on which the Tax is based will be site valuation rather than the value of the home; (b) There is a transparent direct link between the household tax and the services and facilities it is funding in the local authority;  (c) The amount to be levied, while based on a nationally determined formula, is a reserved function of locally elected members; (d) It is linked on ability to pay, with sliding scale for those experiencing difficulties; (e) There is a flexible method of payment; (f) The tax is payable directly to the relevant local authority in which the property is located but the householder can choose to have it stopped at source from their income if they so wish. That this motion if passed be forwarded to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

REPORT:

The legislation [Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012] was enacted on the 26 ^th December 2012 and we await guidance from the Department of Finance and Department of Environment Community and Local Government regarding the implications and the financial impact of the legislation on the Council.

Should the Members agree the motion a letter will issue to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government containing the details of the motion.