Council finances are slowly turning around
THE return of a €2.4million surplus in 2017 was an “extraordinary achievement” according to Sligo County Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes, speaking at this month’s County Council meeting.
Mr Hayes was commenting on foot of the Annual Financial Statement report of the 2017 figures which indicated a surplus for a third straight year.
The council still has a distance to travel in correcting its overall financial position with the overall deficit standing at €21.4million, though this is down from €26.6million in 2014.
“We are not awash with money, but we have arrested the climb in our finances. The situation needs continued monitoring,” Mr Hayes told members.
Several reasons have been attributed to this improved financial position, such as an increase in commercial rate collection from 59pc in 2013 to 77pc last year, a relaxation in terms of recruitment and the closure of certain services.
However, more innovative measures have also contributed to the upturn in the council’s revenue haul, with the contin- ued development of the fire service in Sligo as a regional training centre one such example, with training courses earning the council an extra €11,000 in 2017.
Councillors welcomed the continued improvement in the financial position.
Councillor Marie Casserly commended the Council’s Head of Finance Maire Whelan and her team on the surplus for 2017, and said the council had “an awful lot more to do but was heading in the right direction.”
Councillor Hubert Keaney echoed those comments and acknowledged the “huge” work done by the executive in helping correct the situation.
Cathaoirleach Councillor Seamus Kilgannon congratulated the staff on their efforts as well as the general public and elected representatives.
He called on political parties, who he said would be drawing up manifestos in advance of an anticipated general election in the not-too-distant future, to “make a commitment to help county councils in a deficit situation to reduce their deficits.”