Galway 2020 warning: Don’t bank on businesses for more funding

Galway City Tribune – Galway 2020 has been warned: don’t bank on support for increased commercial rates from the business community this year.

Galway City Council, with agreement and support of Galway Chamber, had hiked commercial rates by 3% for three years to fund the European Capital of Culture bid.

That increase brought in €3.3 million to the coffers at City Hall over three years – which was pledged to Galway 2020. City councillors voted for the increase to remain in place for 2016, 2017 and 2018, with the expectation that the rate would revert to the lower level for 2019.

The Council’s 2019 budget is currently being prepared and a former mayor said Galway 2020 cannot bank on the increased rate being maintained for another year.

Councillor Pádraig Conneely (FG) said he and the local business and arts communities had “serious” concerns about the direction of Galway 2020, and their support for another increased commercial rate to fund the project cannot be relied upon.
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