Clare County Councillors have voted in favour of maintaining reduced local property tax rates here, but only after a tense political row.
A majority of Councillors, a mix of Independents and Fianna Fáil members, backed a motion to maintain Clare's current reduction of 15%.
That was despite warnings that the fall-off in income of around 1.5 million euro would limit the number of projects and services here next year.
However, Lissycasey Fianna Fáil Councillor PJ Kelly thinks a cut in central funding is to blame.
The decision means there'll be no change in property tax rates next year, though Fine Gael members had proposed halving the reduction to 7.5% in a bid to bolster the Council's coffers.
Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn feels the money could have been put to use for the county.
