The estimated expenditure of €56.7million in Sligo County Council for 2011 is a significant reduction on the 2010 figures and reflects the reducing fund-base and the very serious economic challenges facing the Authorities. The reduction in economic activity will impact severely in the Council’s ability to generate income from commercial rates, planning fees etc. The Local Government Fund is the Council’s largest source of discretionary income, and its reduction by 17% over the last three years presents great difficulties in terms of managing and delivering our various services.
Measures will be introduced over the life of the Corporate Plan to further reduce payroll costs and to introduce organisational efficiencies which will enable us to maintain our services at an appropriate level. Financial planning at local level will be informed by the provisions of National Recovery Plan, which includes reductions in public expenditure in both revenue and capital areas.
A difficulty faced by all Local Authorities is to oversee the prudent management of scare financial resources while having regard to the many statutory obligations imposed on them.