Some budget savings could be made as money not spent
A PORTION of around €25,000 of the sum of the money allocated in the budget for festivals and events for the district has been identified as ‘possible savings’ members of Bray Municipal District heard last Tuesday night.
This was during the adoption of the schedule of works for 2020, a sum of €5.8 million, before the members. The figures before the members were divided into various categories such as maintenance of playgrounds, area office costs, public conveniences, upkeep of burial ground, maintenance of local housing units and other aspects of local district operations. Figures were broken into payroll and other expenditure.
The members were also presented with figures administered centrally for items such as homeless service, library service, leisure facilities, coastal protection, motor taxation and more, to a total of €2.724,347.
Members heard that if they did not adopt the schedule, it would go back to the full council for approval.
Cllr Grace McManus raised a query regarding the category ‘Operation of Arts Programme’, under which a sum had been allocated for festivals.
Pointing out that some of that money would not be used due to coronavirus, she wondered if there was scope to do some sort of community reaction to Covid-19 with that money.
The money she referred to would fund the St Patrick’s Festival, which did not proceed, Bray
Jazz, which was cancelled prior to Covid-19, Bray Air Display, which did not proceed, and the Christmas lights, which will go ahead.
District administrator David Forde said that having been asked to identify potential savings, that was an area in which savings could be made, as the money they do not have to spend. Members heard that the sum in question is approximately €25,000.
Mr Forde said that the festivals category was preferable to something like street cleaning which is a necessity.
Acting district manager Lorraine Gallagher said that the council is facing an unprecedented situation with regard to finances. She said all districts and corporate departments are being asked to look at expenditure. ‘We sat down and looked at the budget,’ she said. ‘Events were the stand out items. We couldn’t justify not putting them forward as a sacrifice.’
Cllr Joe Behan thanked Cllr McManus for pointing out the matter. ‘ The officials are re-drawing the estimates and not really up front about telling us,’ he said. ‘We should have been told there would be cuts. I thought the government were going to ensure that councils would be compensated for losses suffered during Covid-19, that was the PR spin we got.’
Mr Ford said that there is not necessarily going to be any cut, but rather the identification of potential savings for the time being.