Limerick City and County Council has released its draft budget for the day-to-day running of Limerick City and County Council and the provision of services during 2018.
Councillors will vote on the €158.55 million revenue budget next Friday with an additional €500,000 being set aside to provide for direct services across the city and county compared to 2017.
This will be funded by a proposed 1.75 per cent increase in the Commercial Rate and the Local Property Tax which has been increased by 7.5 per cent from the base rate.
There will be additional funding for maintenance and improvements to local and regional roads; street cleaning; community grants; litter management; library services; tourism development and promotion.
Other services that will have increased funding include homeless services; housing maintenance; footpath repairs; urban and village renewal; culture and the arts.
There is a reduction in the provision for Bad Debts of €2 million due, in part, to increased payment of the commercial rates.
Limerick City and County Council is further expanding the Small and Medium Business Support Scheme for 2018.
All businesses who have a Qualifying Annual Rate Warrant of less than or equal to €25,000 will be eligible for a 9 per cent support payment, subject to a maximum of €1,000.
94 per cent of all rateable properties in Limerick will be eligible to apply for this Support Scheme.
The Tourism Support Scheme also remains in place with no changes.
On the capital side, €420 million is budgeted for the next three years, €205 million of which is for housing and building.
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