Elected Members of Clare County Council voted to adopt the Annual Budget 2024 which provides for over €186 million in expenditure on service provision, an increase of €34 million on the previous year with a clear focus from members to support businesses and our communities.
The annual revenue budget provides 100% Local Property Tax (LPT) funding for a very broad range of services, increasing budget allocations for road maintenance, winter maintenance, public beach, amenity, park and playground maintenance, library resources, community grant and leisure centre funding, housing grants and General Municipal District resources and allocations, as well as providing grants for local businesses.
Cllr Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, said, “I welcome the adoption of the budget for 2024, which provides for increased expenditure across a number of areas. The provisions allocated will have a positive impact and will help ensure County Clare remains an attractive place to live, work and visit. Adoption of this budget underscores the Council’s commitment to high quality service delivery for our communities.”
Speaking of the adoption of the budget, Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council, said, “This budget provides for the continued maintenance and development of services while supporting communities and businesses. Commercial Rates REVAL 2024 is now complete with a reduction in commercial rates for 62% of businesses. While this is a rebalancing of commercial rates income across all businesses in the county, it has not generated any real change in commercial rates over that in 2023.
“While there is an increase in commercial rates for some businesses, the impact will be offset for many businesses in 2024 by the Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB) grant scheme and the continuation of the Clare County Council Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) and hospitality schemes.”
There will be an increase in several budget areas arising from securing the full LPT revenue into this Council budget. These are areas that have seen emerging demands arising from both inflation and increased high service demand including housing maintenance, local road maintenance, burial ground maintenance, enhanced public realm and outdoor amenity spaces. Other areas which saw an increase were derelict sites/vacant sites grants, business grants, housing grants, General Municipal Allocation and community grants schemes.