Councillors facing tough choices at Thursday"s crunch budget meeting

Westmeath"s County Councillors are to be asked to approve a 2 per cent hike in the commercial rates for Westmeath at their annual budget meeting, which takes place on Thrusday in Moate.If approved, the hike is likely to infuriate business owners in Westmeath at a time when the same budget report acknowledges that gains in rates are being 'negated by business closures'.Westmeath County Manager Daniel McLoughlin"s report describes the current rates income as 'static' with 10.5 per cent of the council"s funding coming from rates in 2008 compared to 10.4 per cent on the previous year. 'Any gains in rates buoyancy due to expanded activity are unfortunately being negated by business closures on the other hand,' his report reveals.The Council"s budgeted expenditure for 2009 is €77,846,5026, while anticipated income is at €47,380,741.Due to a 6.2 per cent decrease in Government funding, the 2009 Local Government Fund allocation is now equivalent to what had been received by the council in 2007.This reduction in funding coupled with the current economic slowdown has meant the council have had tough decisions to make in this budget.Going by the latest figures, Westmeath County Council expect planning applications to halve in 2009 with an estimated income reduction of €530,000.A reduction in consumption is also expected to hit the council"s refuse collection services where an anticipated €130,000 drop in charges is predicted.In other areas, Mr McLoughlin believes an additional €450,000 will be collected in rent as a result of last year"s rent increases and increased housing development.Changes to Mullingar Swimming Pool management also mean the council are only expecting to subsidise the pool to the tune of €23,000 in 2009 compared with €150,000 in 2008, he added.The council will set aside €1,300,000 to cover the cost of payroll increases from 2008 and for the 3.5 per cent pay increase due to staff in September 2009.Along with this cost extra funding of €1,392,000 will be allocated for environmental, water, road and energy projects deemed essential to the improvement of infrastructure in Westmeath.To bridge the gap between income and expenditure, the Councillors will be considering a number of measures, including a suggestion that the positions of 25 contract staff not be renewed, and that staff be redeployed to fill 15 vacant positions within the Council, moves that would save €1m.The council plan to move employees from areas where there is less demand on staff to busier locations.'Cover for contract staff and maternity leave etc. will be resourced through the redeployment of existing staff resources from areas where consumer demand has decreased, or activity has decreased due to a reduction in state aid levels,' the County Manager"s Budget Report proposes.According to County Manager Daniel McLoughlin, the move has been made 'in order to achieve the three per cent payroll saving initiated by Government'.A further €300,000 is expected to be saved through a reduction in overtime and a decision not to use casual staff. 'Greatly extended work programmes in recent years have required the use of additional casual staff and at times weekend working. It is not envisaged that any casual staff will be employed in 2009 while discretionary overtime will cease.'Mr McLoughlin was keen to point out that essential services such as sweeping, maintenance and emergency services will continue under close scrutiny.He says that for cost reasons, a brown bin scheme will not be rolled out; and the Mullingar pool subvention has been reduced to €23,000 from €150,000.Meanwhile, the council is setting aside €1,300,000 to allow for a staff pay increase of 3.5 per cent planned for September 1, 2009 and to cover 'the full cost of 2008 payroll increases', stated Mr McLoughlin.