Council service to suffer in further budget cuts

Date Published: 07-Jan-2010

Householders across the county will have to get used to a further erosion of services this year as cash-strapped Galway County Council tries to make ends meet on a stretched budget.

Councillors this week adopted the 2010 budget leaving commercial rates at last year’s level and increasing commercial water charges by 5%.

County Manager, Martina Moloney said that the demands on the authority had changed as a result of the economic downturn with some areas of activity experiencing a reduced demand – like planning and capital works – while other areas are in more demand – housing, higher education grants and library services.

She said that in addition, more than 2.550 households had been connected to the public water supply in the last 18 months as the Council provided water to group water schemes from the public water supply.

Ms Moloney said that the Council had seen a huge change in resources last year but had done their best to operate within financial constraints.

“The Council is aware of the difficulties being experienced by residents of the county, businesses and communities arising during this period of economic turmoil and is committed to ensuring the cost effective delivery of services, with the available resources.

“We must respond flexibly to the changed resources available and demand for services. Galway County Council provides essential services and spends significant resources throughout the county and the 2010 budget represents a valuable injection of funds to County Galway,” she said.

The roads programme will be the worst hit with a reduction of €13m in funding available to the council this year to repair potholes, maintain good road surfaces and the general upkeep of roads including hedge trimming.

Continued on page 2 of this week’s Connacht Tribune

See also on page 6

• Councillors dilute water charges increase
• Roadworks curtailed
• No Increase for commercial rate
• Housing plans put on back burner
• Council seeks grant aid
• High praise for Council staff