Galway City Council has agreed on a budget of €102.5 million for the city for the year of 2021, an increase of €2.8 million expenditure on this year.
The budget, which was adopted at the annual meeting of the city council on Monday, does not include any increases in commercial rates, Local Property Tax or increases in charges for services.
Among the items included in the budget are a subsidy to ensure that Leisureland will remain open throughout 2021, and €400,000 in arts grants,
In housing, it is estimated that a total of 320 new social houses will be built and delivered in 2021.
Funding has been provided for the installation of 3,100 – 3,200 LED bulbs in public lights around the city, and to start ‘greening the fleet’ of city owned vehicles.
“I want to thank my colleagues in the coalition for their efforts in recent days to ensure a fair and balanced budget was delivered,” Mayor of Galway City Mike Cubbard said.
“No doubt some will pick holes in the budget, but I was happy to support the proposal put forward by the ‘pact’, which received the support of our group of 10 plus two other Councillors with a vote of 12 for and 6 against.”
Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Brendan McGrath commented “This year has been the most challenging of years on record due to the impact of COVID-19 and the major economic uncertainty it has caused is likely to continue into the year ahead.
“The Council has been prudent in managing its finances and provision has been made over the last number of years to build up some reserves, which will see the utilisation of these funds in 2021 to deliver a number of beneficial projects and initiatives for the city.”
