SDCC budget for 2018 tops €232 million
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THERE are plans for South Dublin County Council to spend a total of €232.4m in the county in 2018, showing a €4.5m increase on their expenditure in the 2017 budget, according to the council’s Draft Annual Budget for 2018.
It is proposed that the largest allocation of funds will go to the council’s housing and building division, totalling €70,738,800, showing a €2m increase on the figure listed in the council’s 2017 budget.
The council’s housing and building division covers a number of services, including the maintenance of housing units, tenancy and estate management, housing grants, homeless service, rent assessment and debt management.
According to the council’s 2017 budget, their biggest source of income from their housing and building division was rent from the Social Housing Differential Rent Scheme and the Rental Accommodation Scheme, and it is understood that commercial rates also form part of the income that this division receives.
It is also projected that the council’s largest source of income through their divisions in 2018 will come from their housing and property division at €62,539,900, which is a €994,900 decrease on their income from this division during 2017.
It is projected that income from the road transport and safety division, which is primarily provided through government grants and funds, will reach €5,222,400 in 2018.
The budget strategy has also highlighted specific funds for the replacement of windows and doors, boiler replacement, electrical repairs, replacement of public light columns, playgrounds, the library book fund and the small and medium business support scheme.
Funds of €38.4m have been ringfenced for the council’s recreation and amenity division, while €36.5m has been set aside for the council’s environmental services division.
Only three of the council’s divisions will see a decrease in expenditure in 2018, namely the agriculture, education, health and welfare section which will receive €130,500 less than it received this year, meanwhile the development management division will have to absorb a decrease of €210,500.
The environmental services division will see a decrease of €3m compared to this year’s expenditure.
It is expected that miscellaneous services will generate €10,984,800 in 2018, however a breakdown detailing what these miscellaneous services include was unavailable at the time of going to print.
The draft budget also contains plans for a 15 per cent reduction in local property tax, and for 75 per cent rates relief on vacant properties.
The draft copy of the budget will be available online today, November 9, and is available for inspection in the County Hall, Tallaght and the Civic Centre, Clondalkin.
The draft budget will be considered at the Statutory Annual Budget Meeting in the Council Chamber on November 16.
