No rate increase for Kilkenny business

KILKENNY BUSINESS will not face a commercial rates increase in 2010 following the decision by Kilkenny Local Authorities to freeze rates for the third year in a row.

Kilkenny County Council has also agreed to reduce water charges by 1.5%. It is hoped that these decisions will help to ease the financial burden that many local businesses are experiencing.

The total expediture for Kilkenny County Council's 2010 budget is €70.3 million. This is a decrease of €6.2 million on the budget for 2009.

Proposing the budget, Cllr Paul Cuddihy said that Kilkenny needed to be seen as a place that people could do business in. He said he was glad to see a reduction in water charges and pointed out that they would have sought a higher reduction had it not been for the economic downturn.

Cllr Matt Doran agreed but said he hoped the measures would help local businesses to survive into the future. He said he accepted that money had to be taken from roads but asked that they arrange a special meeting during the year as the allocation would not see them through to 2011.

Cllr Tomas Breathnach said he was concious that many businesses in Kilkenny were small family run operations. "It is important that they know that they have a council that is supporting them in this difficult time," he said.

He added that he was also delighted with the increased funding for community groups. "That funding is most welcome. The effects of it will be greater than the spend," he said.

Chairman Michael O'Brien thanked everybody involved for their input. "We would all love another €100 million for Kilkenny but that is the way it is," he said.

He pointed out that the budget had received agreement from all 26 members and that the final draft contained the essential services for people to survive. "I look forward to 2010 when we can act without any disruption on behalf of those we represent," he said.

County Manager Joe Crockett said it had been a difficult budget for everyone involved and that the extent of cuts made it very clear that next year will be very difficult in Kilkenny in respect to local authority services.

He said that the final budget was the optimum balance of services, interests and books so that the best could be provided for the people of Kilkenny.

Other highlights of the budget include: The book fund for county libraries has been increased by €10,000, Ring-a-Link rural transport has been allocated €10,000 and Newrath recycling service will be retained in full.