THERE is to be a 10% cut in the budget to run Limerick city in 2011, but the good news for traders is that commercial rates are to remain untouched.
City manager Tom Mackey will tell councillors and officials at next Tuesday’s Estimates meeting that substantial cuts right across the board are on the way.
He will confirm that, as a result of the advent of the new tunnel under the Shannon, National Roads Authority funding roads is to be slashed by 75%,
There is no provision for routine maintenance work and house building in the city, with the exception of two sheltered housing developments – at Vizes Court and on Edward Street.
City Hall’s cost-cutting measures include a savings of approximately €150,000 in street lighting.
A saving of €100,000 is achieved by City Hall’s IT Department switching all computers to open source, rather than proprietary software.
A reduction in staff numbers will not result in a saving next year, as the lump sum payments and pensions for 2010 are expected to be more than the salaries foregone, but it does reduce City Hall’s cost base for future years.
Cost of servicing the elected City Council, including councillors’ expenses and such ancillary costs as documentation, IT etc, has been reduced by €100,000
City Hall anticipates raising in excess of €240,000 in 2011 from the Non-Principal Private Residence charge.
The Retail Incentive Scheme, currently being worked on by City Hall, will offer incentives to encourage occupancy of vacant properties, predominantly in the retail core.
The council is in the process of designing a scheme to offer incentives for the higher order retail uses of such premises – to enhance the multifaceted character of the area.
It will encourage a diversity of uses to increase overall attractiveness for shopping, leisure and business purposes and the scheme will be cost neutral.
Cllr Diarmuid Scully FG, who heads the Fine Gael representation on city council, said that while trying to preserve services as much as possible, there will be small cuts right across the board.
“There is no painless way to do so but we, in line with the other councillors, will be fine-tuning the details. I feel that Mr Mackey has produced a reasonable mechanism”.
