The Budget for 2010 was agreed at a special meeting of Cork City Council on Monday, December 21st. The Budget is set within a period of financial difficulty, and is based on a projected expenditure of €193,855,800. This total expenditure shows a reduction of €14,822,500 or 7.4% on the 2009 budget.
Many of the City’s income sources are under pressure. We have seen a reduction in our receipts from Non Domestic Water, Pay Parking, Domestic refuse etc and a downturn in the economy has also seen an increase in vacancy and a reduction of around 5% in the yield from the Commercial rates.
In addition, the pressures on the national finances have meant that the government grants have been reduced. The Local Government Fund General Purpose Allocation was reduced by 6.2% or €1,762,024 for the last year’s budget and by a further €856,727 (3.2%) during the year.
In spite of this financial crisis, there are positive aspects of this year’s Budget. There will be no increase in :
- Commercial Rates
- Commercial Water charges
- Commercial refuse
- Domestic refuse
- Parking charges
- Rental charges
Cork City council is committed to maintaining the domestic refuse waiver for the less well off in our society. It is our responsibility to the City of Cork and the people of Cork to maintain our competitiveness – balancing commercial charges and the the services we provide to the ordinary citizens of the Cork. The City Council budget as proposed and adopted was the best that this City could have produced, given the cruel deductions imposed on us by Central Government, along with the jobs embargo in the public sector.
| 2010 | 2009 | Change | |
| € | € | % | |
| Housing and Building | 40,137,300 | 42,120,000 | -5% |
| Road Transport and Safety | 28,194,200 | 32,168,700 | -12% |
| Water Services | 22,282,200 | 23,664,500 | -6% |
| Development Management | 9,080,400 | 9,868,500 | -8% |
| Environmental Services | 42,088,600 | 45,966,800 | -8% |
| Recreation and Amenity | 22,735,300 | 24,898,500 | -9% |
| Agriculture, Education Health & Welfare | 19,583,800 | 15,842,500 | 24% |
| Miscellaneous Services | 9,754,000 | 5,898,300 | 65% |
| 193,855,800 | 200,427,800 |
