Draft budget for council comes in at over €300m

THE Draft Budget for 2023 by South Dublin County Council provides for total expenditure of €306 million.

A great amount of this – €111.8m – is for housing and building.

Presented to elected members this week, the 2023 budget anticipates income of €156.5m, from a range of services and sources, including rents, fees, charges, loan repayments, grants, and recoupments.

The balance totalling €149.6m will be funded from a combination of commercial rates and local property tax (LPT).

In the report, SDCC Chief Executive Daniel McLoughlin said the council was mindful in preparing the budget of “prevailing global and economic” issues and challenges ahead, including resourcing and cost increases associated with inflation.

With regard to current challenges for business and households, there are no increases proposed for local property tax, commercial rates, or social housing rents.

Members voted to reduce local property tax by 15 per cent at the October council meeting.

McLoughlin noted a “retention and continued investment” in front-line services to cater for “our ever-increasing population and expanding communities.”

“Where possible, budgets have been protected against inflation, with an overall inflation provision of circa €10m, of which €4m relates to energy/fuel, and €6m relates to materials and contract,” he said.

With regard to staff, McLoughlin said Covid delayed recruitment levels, and that an additional 100 staff are required across the organisation over the next two years.

“This plan has been submitted for approval and is the subject of ongoing discussion. To support the implementation of this workforce plan, an additional €2.9m has been provided to support additional employment in 2023,” he said.

Included in the Draft Budget for 2023 is over €2.5m in funding which must be contributed by the council to the regional homeless service and €23.2m to Dublin City Council for the provision of the fire service in 2023.

The 2023 budget is framed as the council faces “immense challenges” due to a combination of “rapidly rising inflation, on-going supply chain difficulties, rapidly rising interest rates and intense global geo-political uncertainty.”