Cllrs to consider Draft Local Authority Budget

Budge 2021 saw no increase in the rates for Cavan's businesses

The Draft Local Authority Budget of Cavan County Council for year ending 31st December 2022 has been prepared and will be considered by elected representatives later next week.

Councillors will sit down and examine the numbers when they meet for the Local Authority Budget Meeting at the Cavan Crystal Hotel, Dublin Road, Cavan Town on Friday, November 26.

For the 2021 Budget it was decided to freeze any increase in the rates for Cavan's businesses. The revaluation of County Cavan in 2019 saw 63% of ratepayers get a reduced bill, which hit council income. Therefore the council had set aside €1.333m in the 2020 budget and again in 2021, to cover refunds of rates if they are reduced on appeal.

The decision to agree no increase in what had already been a difficult year for local businesses due to the pandemic was made somewhat easier by virtue of the fact that councillors opted to increase the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) by 15% the September before.

The LPT increase generate an additional income of €680,996 for Cavan County Council, and close to €78 million was earmarked to be spent by Cavan County Council in 2021, a more than €6 million increase from 2020.

It includes almost €11 million to be spent on housing and building, as well as close to €24 million for road transport and safety.

The budget also includes provision of €1.74 million from the NPPR and landfill income.

But as had been stated before, the landfill was set to reach capacity in 2021, and the NPPR is set to be reduced and soon disappear.