Council expenditure to be cut by €10,000

SHANNON Town Council is set to cut its expenditure by slightly under €10,000, according to a draft budget that is being presented to councillors.

In the budget adopted for 2009, expenditure of €166,250 was provided for. However, in 2010 this will be trimmed back to €157,000.
The town council’s income is also set to dip slightly, while the net demand from Clare County Council is set to decline from €123,250 to €115,500.
In the draft budget, town manager Bernadette Kinsella said that the figures were prepared against a very difficult background.
“The draft budget has been prepared in a most difficult economic climate, as reflected in a reduction of funds available from Clare County Council and where cognisance has been taken of the demands on commercial rate payers in the town and the need to maintain commercial rates at 2009 levels.
“The draft budget sets out the amounts necessary for the council to fund its operations for the coming year. Gross expenditure is estimated at €157,000 and projected income is estimated at €41,500. This results in a net expenditure of €115,500 and represents the demand from Clare County Council for 2010.
“This level of demand does not necessitate an increase in the town rate, which remains at €2.11.”
She outlined some points of interest within the draft budget. “The council has made provision on an annual basis for information technology to build up a fund to improve the use of technology in terms of its own activities and for website development. It is hoped to implement improvements to the Shannon Town Council website www.shannon.ie in 2010. Discussions have been held with the Shannon and District Chamber of Commerce regarding overall development of the website and how it might be best utilised as a wider resource in the promotion of all aspects of activity in Shannon and the wider area.”
She claimed that the budget was making the best use of available resources. “Overall, the budget for 2010 has represented a very difficult balance in terms of maintaining services while at the same time acknowledging the financial circumstances which exist, both at public finance level and at individual enterprise level.
“ I am confident that the draft budget achieves the balance required and will ensure that Shannon Town Council can fully contribute and participate in a wide range of activities in 2010.
“It is essential that Shannon Town Council would continue to adopt a progressive and visionary approach to the discharging of functions in what is the second-largest town in the county.”