Local Property Tax on the rise as councillors lose control

There were chaotic scenes at City Hall on Thursday as Waterford City & County Council voted to raise the Local Property Tax from 10% to 15% for the next five years.

Insults, accusations and harsh words were traded across the Chamber for the duration of the meeting - to the point which the Mayor of Waterford City & County, Cllr. Jason Murphy (Fianna Fail) felt the need to apologise to those present.

Councillors voted to increase the LPT to 15% on a 20-11 majority - having earlier quashed a counter proposal from Sinn Fein to revert the tax back to the base rate - a decision which would have incurred a loss to the local authority of over €1m.

Multiple arguments ensued across the course of the hour-long debate. Fine Gael Councillor Damien Geoghegan was first to endorse adopting the recommendation of Council CEO Sean McKeown - and proposed the adoption of the 15% rate being locked in for five years. This was seconded by Cllr. Thomas Phelan of the Labour Party.

"You're a disgrace"

"I fully agree with locking it in for five years, the last time we looked at it - we locked it in for two years - but locking it in for five years gives us greater certainty", said Cllr. Geoghegan.

Independent Councillor Donal Barry wasn't quite in agreement - he outlined why he would be voting against the proposal, and took aim at some of his fellow councillors.

"It's dangling a carrot - some councillors have been getting €8,000 each to go around like some kind of Robin Hoods to go out handing money to various sports clubs and all. That's an absolute disgrace, I think. It's a way of buying votes and I think the public will see it through it. I won't be supporting it", Cllr. Barry outlined.

Cllr. Geoghegan was incensed by these comments and shouted at Cllr. Barry across the chamber. "You don't have the guts to actually spend money!", he repeatedly levelled at Cllr. Barry while Mayor Murphy attempted to restore order. "We're always looking for more power. You're calling this a disgrace. You're the disgrace!", he told Cllr. Barry.

Sinn Fein Councillor Conor McGuinness was next to speak once order had been restored - but he couldn't resist the opportunity to speak about Cllr. Geoghegan's behaviour.

"What is it with Cllr. Geoghegan that he can't make his proposal and leave it at that? He has to come in and call politicians names across the chamber and speak across the Mayor. It's not good and it doesn't reflect well..", he continued - before the Mayor sharply ordered "Don't add to it".

"Here we go again", lamented Independent Councillor Joe O'Riordan. "A tax on the home is fundamentally wrong" said Cllr. O'Riordan - who voiced his dissatisfaction with the Chief Executive's proposal.

Chaos

Fianna Fail Councillor Adam Wyse took aim at Sinn Fein shortly afterward. "I don't take any onus of what people who don't agree with this are saying - because next month they'll be in here looking for more to be done with money that doesn't just come from anywhere. It's going to come from taxpayers."

His party colleague Eamon Quinlan went one further however, as the meeting then descended into chaos.

"Sinn Fein's policy on the Local Property Tax is that they will abolish the Local Property Tax if they're in power. Until then, their local councillors are mandated to cut The Local Property Tax from its' base rate by 15%. I would like to commend Sinn Fein General Election candidate Conor McGuinness for his proposal to leave it at the base rate, and I hope he's not disciplined by Sinn Fein for bringing out a proposal that is contrary to what their party position is."

Cllr. Quinlan also claimed that 5 of the 7 Sinn Fein councillors including Cllr. McGuinness had voted in favour of a Local Property Tax increase in 2019 - the record was later clarified to confirm this accusation was incorrect.

Angered by the accusations, Cllr. McGuinness moved to 'reassure' Cllr. Quinlan who he worried "is very very concerned about me".

Sinn Fein Councillor Catherine Burke was first to acknowledge the general behaviour - saying she was "disappointed with the way that people have conducted themselves in the Chamber today."

'Unfair accusations'

Cllr. McGuinness again expressed his wish to address the assertation from Cllr. Quinlan which was factually incorrect - however Mayor Murphy refused to let him to do so, leading to another loss of order.

An incensed Cllr. Pat Fitzgerald (Sinn Fein) accused the Mayor of protecting his party colleagues by not allowing Cllr. McGuinness to speak to which the Mayor responded "I'm not protecting anyone, I'm putting the counter-proposal to the floor. I've been fair to everyone."

"Are councillors now allowed to tell lies across the chamber about named councillors?!", shouted Cllr. McGuinness.

"One of your colleagues made an unfair accusation and it should be answered!", added Cllr. Fitzgerald.

"I'm chairing the meeting. You're not", responded the Mayor. "I've made my decision".

Cllr. McGuinness' amendment was put to the floor and was defeated by 21 votes to 10.

Vote

Social Democrats Councillor Mary Roche had also sought a vote to keep the rate at the current 10% but as it was not seconded - the proposal could not be carried.

The Chief Executive's recommendation was then put to the floor and carried by 20 votes to 11, with one councillor absent.

After the vote, Independent Councillor Declan Clune wondered if he could ask a quick question - "because Sinn Fein doesn't support paying for services in the Council, does that mean we're paying for them?".

"I'm moving on", said a visibly frustrated Mayor Murphy before Cllr. Damien Geoghegan then attempted to interject.

"Mayor, may I just say I got somewhat unruly and I wish to apologise to you as I was disrespectful during that particular discussion. I want to apologise to you particularly for that", said Cllr. Geoghegan.

"While we're waiting and we're on the topic of apologies - an untruth was spoken about me in the last ten minutes", said Cllr. McGuinness.

"I'm not going back there again. I'm not going back there again. You're going to keep doing it!", said Mayor Murphy.

"Cllr. Eamon Quinlan told an untruth and you allowed that to happen", said an angered McGuinness.

The meeting eventually moved on before Cllr. Murphy addressed some of the behaviour that was on display in the aftermath.

"I just want to say a few words about the general behaviour that happened during the Local Property Tax discussion, which I think was completely unacceptable from both sides in the chamber. I had my own integrity called into question on more than one occasion. It's not about me really, it's about this Chair - and you can laugh all you like, Cllr. Fitzgerald - but it's totally unacceptable. We have a number of people in the public chamber today, probably more than we've ever had. I think we've left ourselves down."

Cllr. McGuinness was then finally given the opportunity to clarify the record before the meeting drew to a close.

Vote on Chief Executive's recommendation to increase Local Property Tax to 15%:

FOR: (21)

Declan Barry (IND)

Liam Brazil (FG)

Declan Clune (IND)

Joe Conway (IND)

Tom Cronin (FF)

Jim D'Arcy (FG)

Damien Geoghegan (FG)

Blaise Hannigan (IND)

Joe Kelly (IND)