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Westmeath Councillors Approve €84.2m Budget For 2020

Tuesday, 26 November 2019 08:21

That's a €7.2m increase on this years allocation.

Westmeath County Council has approved a €7.2 million increase to the 2020 budget.

This brings the total proposed expenditure of the local authority to €84.2 million next year.

Almost €1 million of the increase in the budget will be funded by a 6% hike to commercial rates.

However a grant scheme of 5% is being introduced that will protect smaller businesses from the charge up to a maximum of €250.

Meaning four in five will only see a 1% change in their bill.

The council house maintenance allocation, a new urban renewal fund of €200,000, and a budget of €25,000 for a climate action strategy are some of the scheme's set to benefit.

Over €15 million is being set aside for maintaining roads in the county.

While €1.5 million will be spent on litter management and street cleaning.

And €300,000 is being budgeted for Mullingar hosting the Fleadh - although some councillors suggested this allocation should be higher.

The budget was passed by a majority of 12 to seven.

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