Home owners in Co Galway are facing a 10% increase in Local Property Tax payments next year.
Galway County Council last night voted in favour of a proposal to increase the charge in 2017.
A total of 21 councillors supported the motion, with 15 opposing it.
Councils have the power to either increase or decrease the rate of Local Property Tax by up to 15% or, leave it unaltered.
The proposal was backed by all but one of the Fine Gael members on the local authority, with support from several Fianna Fáil councillors.
A majority of the council's Independent members opposed the motion, along with Sinn Féin and some representatives from Fianna Fáil.
