Monaghan councillors defer budget and demand more funds from minister

Despite a strong appeal by the chief executive of Monaghan County Council, Eugene Cummins, that the draft budget for the county be adopted at the annual budget meeting this week, the majority of the elected representatives voted to defer the decision until they can meet with the Minister to demand more funds.
Mr Cummins had insisted that there were no financial gaps in the budget. “In the budget as presented, there is nothing to prevent you adopting it,” he said.
The gross revenue expenditure set out in the draft budget, largely in line with 2014, was almost €54.7m, with rates to remain unchanged at 59.61 in the euro and the local property tax also unchanged.
However, a substantial number of the members voted in favour of a motion proposed by Hugh McElvaney (FG) to adjourn the meeting pending a meeting with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Alan Kelly, to seek further funding for the local authority for 2015.
Those tasked with meeting the Minister are Hugh McElvaney, Brian McKenna (SF), PJ O’Hanlon (FF) and Paudge Connolly (Ind) but time is ticking as the members have just 14 days to adopt the budget from the date of the first meeting, that deadline expires on Tuesday of next week, December 2.
The budget meeting was adjourned to Monday, December 1. Meanwhile, Cavan County Council is to consider its draft budget on Monday, November 24.

For a detailed report from both meetings, see Wednesday's Anglo-Celt.