This article is from page 16 of the 2014-01-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE last ever singular budget for the town of Kilrush was passed on Thursday night last, with councillors voting on an expenditure of more than € 1.34 million.
Unlike other years, the budget took account that the councillors would become redundant in May with the dissolution of all town councils, and as a result funding for councillors’ wages and expenses is to cover just the first half of the year.
The € 1,342,548 budget for 2014 increased from € 1,327,958 in 2013. Income, excluding rates and pension levy, was estimated at € 576,183 in 2014 compared to € 631,133 in 2013.
Town manager Anne Haugh ex- plained, “It has been a particularly difficult exercise to balance the Budget for 2014. Kilrush Town Council are proposing no increase in commercial rates for 2014 being mindful of the current difficult economic climate and the difficulties that same pose for local businesses. It should be noted however, that with the proposed abolition of Kilrush Town Council a harmonisation of rates across the county over a ten year period is proposed.”
The Draft Budget been prepared with no income from the Local Government Fund.
“However we are still proposing to maintain the existing level of services in 2014,” said Ms Haugh.
Council payroll costs for this year are to remain the same at € 425,000
A 2005 loan for the upgrading of Henry Street and the Vandeleur Walled Garden project will cost the council € 66,154 this year.
Income from rents is expected to be up this year as refurbishment work to Kilrush Town Council’s Housing Stock means there are more houses available to rent.
An income from rents of local authority dwellings is estimated at € 320,000 with just over one tenth of the income ear marked for maintenance and refurbishment works.
Pay parking, which has proven a hot potato for the council in the past, is expected to bring in € 45, 500 to the council coffers.
Planning applications are also expected to be up. Due to the increase in the number of planning applica- tions received in 2013, an increase to € 3,000 has been provided for in Planning Application Fees for 2014.
Also included in this programme group is a provision of € 13,000 for tourism development and promotion, to fund the marketing and development of Kilrush as a significant tourist attraction.
“As in previous years, support for various projects have been included as it is felt that in these recessionary times, assistance to community projects is even more important than ever,” said Ms Haugh, aware that support for such projects in the future will fall to a larger local authority. Therefore it has been decided to again provide the Community and Development Projects Grants of € 5,500, the Community and Art Grants of € 2,000 and the Contribution to Graveyards of € 800. It is also proposed to increase the contribution to the Chamber of Commerce for the Christmas lights to € 10,500 to assist in the repayment of the balance of a loan taken out by the Chamber to buy the lights.
A further provision of € 5,000 has been provided for the Shop Front Initiative due to its success in 2013. It is also proposed that an increased provision of € 3,500 be made available for twinning for a delegation from Kilrush Town Council to travel to Plouzane in 2014 due to the proposed abolition of town councils in 2014.
One off capital projects are also to receive the full support of the town council before it comes to an end in four months time.