A quarter of Kilrush rates unpaid

KILRUSH Town Council is owed  €186,656 in commercial rates to the end of last year. This figure represents 24% of uncollected rates for 2010.

The town council sought to collect €777,746 of which €591,100 was paid up. The rate collection arrears for 2010 represented an increase of €110,935 on 2009 arrears. Therefore, rate arrears increased by 14% during that 12-month period.
These details were revealed in Kilrush Town Council’s Audited Financial Statement for the year ended December 31, 2010. The report was presented at last Thursday’s monthly meeting. Acting Kilrush town manager, Nora Kaye said, however, that while several business have closed in Kilrush over the last 12 months, almost as many new ventures have started trading.
“It was found that while 11 businesses ceased trading in the last 12 months, 10 new businesses opened up in the town,” Ms Kaye said.
There was a sharp reduction in development contributions for 2010, when €5,603 was collected, compared to €273,096 in 2007. Furthermore, planning fees were down from €12,118 in 2009 to €3,798 at the end of 2010. 
The town council wage bill fell by €52,552 in 2010. It totalled €516,008 compared to €568,560 in 2009. Income from parking fees fell by almost €18,000 in Kilrush from the 2009 total of €118,449.
On that note, last week’s meeting decided to introduce 30 minutes free parking in Kilrush town centre from next year. The meeting decided against three hours’ parking for €1, which was proposed by Ms Kaye. The 30-minute free parking proposal has to be put on public display before being implemented next year.
According to the financial report, total expenditure on the town council’s capital account in 2010 amounted to €376,334. Income and related transfers credited to the capital account totalled €975,984, of which €758,403 was government grants.