Councillors in Co Louth have voted to reduce the local property tax by 1.5 per cent, which is the equivalent of taking between €140,000 and €150,000 out of the county council budget.

After a meeting which lasted about two hours, including a short break, the reduction was passed on the casting vote of the chairman of the council Oliver Tully (Fine Gael).

It was an amendment to a motion that had sought a reduction of 7.5 per cent.

Motions for a reduction of 2 per cent, a reduction of 15 per cent (the maximum), as well a motion for no reduction at all, were defeated before the 1.5 per cent amendment was passed.

The amendment was proposed by Fine Gael councillor Kevin Callan.