No rate change in Kilrush

Kilrush Town Council unanimously adopted its annual budget for 2012 after an adjourned budget meeting held on Tuesday night.

The town council had previously met on December 15 for its annual budget meeting but adjourned to January 3 in order to seek a number of amendments to the draft balanced budget, which had been presented. The suggestion that rates be cut by 2% was not adopted and rates will remain at the same level for 2012.
Following this week’s meeting it was agreed to provide community and arts grants, a graveyard maintenance contribution and Christmas lighting grants at the same level as had been provided for in 2011. Members felt the community and arts grants and graveyard contribution needed to be provided as they give assistance to the voluntary and community effort of many individuals and organisations throughout the town.
It was also felt that by providing a contribution towards Christmas lights in the town a ‘feel good factor’ would result, helping to attract increased visitor numbers to Kilrush during the festive season.
Regarding a 2% rates reduction, town clerk John Corry argued this was “not sustainable and that the monies simply did not exist to provide for same in the budget”.
He emphasised that funding for Kilrush Town Council had been significantly cut for 2012 following an 8.98% reduction in the Local Government Fund. He also said budgeted receipts from parking charges for 2012 has been significantly reduced as a result of the recently adopted Kilrush Town Council Parking Places Bylaws 2011, which he pointed out had been adopted to facilitate businesses in the town. He noted a 2% rates reduction would mean a weekly reduction in rates of less than €1 for 76% of ratepayers in the town. He also stated the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) in Kilrush, which determines the commercial rates payable, was at 61.93, the lowest ARV of each of the local authorities in Clare and that throughout the country, 56 local authorities had higher ARVs than Kilrush Town Council.
The members present accepted these arguments and indicated they had sought a rates reduction to further facilitate businesses but they accepted the monies did not exist to provide for this reduction.
They acknowledged Kilrush Town Council provided services to the town including marketing, street cleaning, upgrading of roads and footpaths.
They also acknowledged improvements had been made to the Parking Bylaws in 2011 by introducing the first half hour free as well as significant free parking being introduced in the lead up to Christmas, resulting in reduced income, in order to facilitate business in the town.
It was suggested by ­members that, at a national level, that the commercial rates system be revised and that a letter should be issued from Kilrush Town Council to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on this matter.