BREAKING: Festival funding retained but commercial rates to increase in Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Council today adopted its Budget for 2023 and the big news is that discretionary funding is safe but commercial rates are set to increase (+3%) for the first time in fifteen years.

There had been anxiety before the Budget announcement that some of the services financed through discretionary funding would be impacted due to cuts.

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These services include: The Watergate Theatre, Rothe House, Kilkenny Tourism, Kilkenny Archives, Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, Tidy Towns, Amenity Grants, Sporting Bodies (including Sports Partnership, GAA, Soccer and Rugby), Garda Youth Programme, Estate Management, Ossory Youth, PPN and Kilkenny Arts Festival.

On the commercial rates increase, elected members also agreed to increase the prompt payment incentive to 5.8% (capped at €250 per rate account).  

Any business availing of the prompt payment incentive whose rate demand is currently €4,000 or less will see no increase in the rate they pay.

Speaking to Kilkenny Live, Cllr Peter 'Chap' Cleere has called on the Council to ensure that all ratepayers are aware of the prompt payment scheme going forward.

The Acting Chief Executive of the Council, Sean McKeown and the Head of Finance, Martin Prendiville explained the significant challenges being faced by the Council at the Budget Meeting.

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In particular, they said the Council is not immune to the unprecedented inflationary pressures faced by all businesses and households at the moment.

This is seriously impacting on the ability of the Council to continue to deliver services.

The Cathaoirleach Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick in welcoming the budget stated that 'tough decisions had to be made'.

"I am pleased to say there are no cuts to funding next year for the delivery of services for citizens and the supports we provide to local communities," he said.

In proposing the Budget Cllr. Andrew McGuinness stated that the main purpose of this Budget was to protect small business and the full range of services the Council deliver.

"I am pleased that we have achieved that," he said. "I am also delighted that we were able to do this without agreeing to the higher rate increase initially proposed by the Executive and that we have ensured the vast majority of small businesses will see no increase in the commercial rate they pay next year."

Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh in seconding the proposal to adopt the Budget said that this year has probably been the most difficult year in all her time as a councillor to reach a balanced budget.

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"We have had an unprecedented number of workshops and engagement in the budget process that has resulted in a fair budget that protects the wide range of services we provide," she said.

The Budget provides for funding of €98.7m, an increase of approximately 5% compared to 2022.

The Budget provides funding across the full spectrum of service areas provided by the Council from social housing and road maintenance through to street cleaning, fire, libraries, playgrounds, parks to economic and community development.

The Budget will also support delivery of the Council’s ambitious Capital Programme that is having a positive impact right across the county.

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In particular, it provides funding for the Council to lever a range of national grant schemes to deliver projects for local communities.

These projects include public realm and infrastructure projects, improved streetscape, parks, playgrounds and open spaces that enhance the vitality, vibrancy and place-making credentials of the towns and villages throughout County Kilkenny.

The Budget also maintained funding for the Council’s Festival & Events Grant Scheme, Amenity Grants and Graveyard Grants Schemes.