Council reports 2016 surplus of ¤ 2.1million
THE swinging cutbacks at Sligo County Council are paying off - its reported a surplus of ¤ 2.1million for 2016.
Coupled with the 2015 surplus of ¤ 700,000 it brings the total over the past two years to ¤ 2.8million.
Councillor Chris MacManus asked what measures were being put in place to increase the collection of commercial rates.
Responding, Mr Hayes said he examined each individual arrears case and had identified “quite a number of accounts where rates should be paid and are not being paid.”
He told the Council meeting that he and his team “will be pursuing these” rates arrears cases, including considering legal avenues.
“Real progress is now being made and not only in cost reductions. Income has improved and great credit is due to the staff for the manner in which they have reduced the arrears,” he said.
After falling steadily over the 2007- 2014 period, Rates dramatically rose from a low of 59% in 2013 to 76% in 2016 according to the latest figures.
Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes said the turnaround was “extraordinary” and made possible by a number of factors, including added workloads to staff and “difficult decisions by the Council at budget time resulting in cuts across all areas.”
He paid tribute to staff for taking on extra responsibilities after major staff cuts while also addressing the financial issues.
“It is also a tribute to the Members who adopted difficult Budgets with severe cost reductions across all service areas in recent years,” he said.
He also credited Head of Finance Marie Whelan and Financial Accountant Patricia Guckian for saving ¤ 100,000 in overdraft interest charges last year.
Councillor Seamus Kilgannon congratulated Marie Whelan for achieving the surplus but added that the Council was “suffering as well because the same amount of money isn’t available.”
Council Cathaoirleach Hubert Keaney said it was an “outstanding achievement not done without hard work.”
Mr Hayes reminded Members that there had been a ¤ 23million deficit in the seven years prior to 2014.