Ballina councillors call for more money in budget

Ciara Galvin

COUNCILLORS in Ballina have rejected the proposed figure of €500,000 for next year’s General Municipal Allocation for the Ballina Municipal District.
Newly appointed Director of Services Joe Loftus proposed the figure to be adopted by the councillors for the draft budgetary plan and outlined that further monies could then be adopted by resolution to the draft budget.
The councillors unanimously rejected this proposal with the majority of them asking for a figure closer to €750,000.
Mr Loftus explained to councillors that Ballina receives 27.78 per cent of the total budget from Mayo County Council, while Castlebar receives approximately 28 percent, Claremorris at 21 percent and Westport at 21.67 percent. He added that by process of equalisation the figure arrived at for Ballina was €500,000.
Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly said he would not be happy to adopt the draft budget as he felt more income streams within the district could be identified and discussed.
“A general municipal budget of €750,000 is more of an acceptable figure. It’s about ring fencing money and keeping it in Ballina,” said Cllr Munnelly.
Cllr Michael Smyth agreed with Cllr Munnelly and said the councillors would have their ‘homework done’ ahead of a meeting with Chief Executive of Mayo County Council Peter Hynes.
Fianna FΡil councillor Michael Loftus said following last year’s budget, he felt ‘hoodwinked’ and was very upset with the amount of money given to the Ballina area.
“I don’t want to leave it to the discretion of the County Manager (Peter Hynes). Last year I said one million should be left aside for Ballina, basing that on rates, car parks and the sale of assets,” said Cllr Loftus.