WEXFORD HOMEOWNERS face an additional bill of almost €10, or 18 cent per week, in 2017.
County Councillors voted last week in favour of a five per cent increase in the Local Property Tax (LPT) rate, which will generate E606,000 to aid the development of several projects throughout the county.
Funds generated will also help to tackle the Council’s high levels of debt.
This is the first rise in the LPT rate County Wexford has seen since the tax was first introduced in 2012 and is set to affect householders in 63,100 properties.
Confusion reigned at the Council meeting over motions proposed in relation to the tax, while councillors argued over which stance was most in the interest of the people of the county.
A decision had to made by September 30th as to whether the tax ought to be increased or decreased by up to 15 per cent, or remain the same.
Revenue raised through the new tax will be used to boost the county’s ambitions Economic Infrastructure Investment Programme.
Projects in Wexford town to benefit from the increase in LPT include: Trinity Wharf Business Park; Wexford Quay Front Refurbishment and the new Wexford neighbourhood (Min Ryan) park.
In Enniscorthy, a new Business Technology Park, a Town Centre Tourism Project and the Templeshannon Revitalisation Project are among projects set to benefit from the increase.
Projects in New Ross set to benefit include: Advanced Factories and Enterprise Centre, Redevelopment of New Ross Port Area and a Town Centre Tourism Project.
In Gorey, projects set to benefit include: New large-scale commercial offices and innovation centre; the Redevelopment of Market House and the Redevelopment of Showgrounds Public Park.
Funding is also to be made available for urban renewal projects at a number of locations around the county, as well as for improvements to county roads.
Read more in the Wexford Echo.