No commercial rates change for 2012
There will be no change to the commercial rates charged in Offaly in 2012, the draft budget of Offaly County Council has revealed this week. If adopted by county councillors next week it will be the fourth year in the row that rates in the county have remained static. County Manager Pat Gallagher said: "We acknowledge that commercial businesses are experiencing a difficult economic situation. We are continuing to endeavour to accommodate ratepayers who are experiencing difficulties with flexible payment arrangements to suit their cash flow situation." The council will have to tackle a deficit of €4.2m next year, with a whopping €1.1m loss of revenue due to the ending of landfill waste at Derryclure Landfill in October as well as a 24% reduction in funding from central government as significant contributors to the total. Offaly County Councillors are scheduled to meet to agree a budget for 2012 next week. A draft budget became available this week, with details of across the board reductions in order to balance next year's budget. Reductions suggested include a raft of measures including a reduction in tourism grants, deferring the provision for 2011's €4m deficit and reducing travel, subsistence and overtime expenses. The draft document set to come before councillors next week shows a decrease in council staff numbers from 538 in 2008 to 413 this year. A partial consequence of this however means pension costs for the council will stand at €2.5m next year, an increase of €164,000 on this year. The same document details funding of €12.165m for Offaly County Council in 2012 from central government's Local Government Fund. The Exchequer contribution to the same fund is to be replaced in 2012 by the controversial household charge. A letter dated December 5 sent from Principal Officer of the Local Government Finance Section Colm Lavery to Offaly County Council's Head of Finance confirms this charge, including details that it can be paid by installment by householders. County Manager Pat Gallagher says in his introduction to the draft budget that while previous years have been very challenging, he envisages that 2012 will be "even more difficult". Offaly County Councillors are to meet to agree a budget next Monday, December 19, at 2pm in Áras an Chontae.