Household charge shortfalls hit councils

Major cuts to council services in Roscommon and Westmeath look inevitable over the coming months as both local authorities grapple with shortfalls in Government funding as a result of the household charge non-compliance. Roscommon County Council will have to cut its spending by €1.7 million after it emerged that their grant allocation from the Local Government Fund has been slashed by 11% as a result of household charge payment non-compliance. 14,000 or 56% of people in Roscommon have paid the household charge to date, with another 10,000 or so still to make the payment. In Westmeath, the council confirmed in a statement that there has been a 10.35% drop in the third quarter payment of of the Local Government fund, equating to a total of €414,356 for the three months. Taken over a year this would bring the cuts to in excess of €1.6 million. It is as yet unclear how much of the allocation to Athlone Town Council will be reduced as a result of the latest round of cuts. The statement went on to say they have been further advised that the final amount of General-Purpose Grants available for 2012 will be revisited and reviewed in quarter four to take account of the financial position at that time. "The implications on the provision of services of this reduction will be discussed by the members of Westmeath County Council at their monthly meeting scheduled for July 30th 2012." Meanwhile, over in Roscommon County Manager Frank Dawson has raised the prospect of major cuts and serious implications to basic services as a direct result of the funding shortfall. A special meeting of the local authority there is expected to be called in August to work out where reductions can be made. In a circular to council members this week, Mr Dawson said they will immediately proceed to identify those items of expenditure which were provided for in the budget 2012 which have not yet been spent and which must now be set aside. The council will be very challenged to achieve savings of the amount indicated from the unspent budget, with just five months remaining. These cuts are likely to have serious implications for service recipients throughout county Roscommon, he predicted. Acknowledging those 56% of people who have paid the household charge, Mr Dawson said the council is anxious to encourage householders who have not already paid to do so at this time. Reacting to the latest funding cuts in Roscommon, Cllr Paddy Kilduff predicted "dire straits" for services in the county considering that the last budget cut them to the bone. "I feel it can't go back anymore. I'm suggesting that it looks like we could have council workers and officials on a three day week shortly, although I'm told that can't be done in the Croke Park Agreement. Otherwise, the other option is close swimming pools, libraries and amalgamate fire stations...It's a dire situation," he said, adding that it is unfair that those 56% who have paid household charge are now going to punished for those who have not. Cllr John Naughten (FG) said Minister Hogan needs to reconsider the situation as the council is not going to be able to make up such a deficit in such a short time. Services will inevitably suffer as a result, he warned.