As the deadline for the payment of the Local Property Tax (LPT) looms (Friday ,7th November), there is still a yawning gap in information as to where it is actually spent.
That’s according to Aontu’ s Monaghan Rep, Olivia Larkin, who says
“I have raised this issue before, and I am still no wiser. I have contacted Monaghan County Council but I am still awaiting a response.
The tax is going up as we all know, and this should be all the more reason for people in Monaghan and countrywide to know exactly where it is going.
Currently I find the whole allocation of LPT quite opaque.
“Unfortunately, it appears that we are stuck with this tax, and the fact that it has increased as properties are revalued, is all the more reason for its distribution to be fully transparent.
As it stands the LPT rate in Monaghan is 15% and this is a sizeable chunk of money for people to pay during the worst cost of living crisis we have experienced in this country for a very long time.
Given that the spending of public money is an issue that is to the fore of people’s minds, it is absolutely vital that the LPT offers value for money.
As well as being totally transparent, it also means that we can determine if the money is being used prudently and in the absolute best interests for the local community.
People deserve openness and accountability, and I really believe that the ordinary people who actually pay this tax should be fully informed as to where it goes. I don’t believe it is enough for just the elected representatives to be fully informed of its allocation. I will continue to press Monaghan County Council to try and determine this and to and ascertain if the LPT is indeed used in the best possible interests of the people of Monaghan”
