An increase in the number of people who settled outstanding charges for second homes in Clare has kept the council’s budget in the black.
New figures show the local authority came in 72 thousand euro under budget in 2012.
However, the level of uncollected rates from businesses in the county stands at 9.8 million – up over 700 thousand on 2011- but the figure includes arrears from that year.
Clare’s County Council’s annual financial statement for 2012 show an overall expenditure of 105 million euro – compared to 111 million the previous year – down roughly 9 percent.
The fall off is mainly due to a drop in Road and Housing Grants, Landfill Income, The Local Government Fund and Agency services.
However the local authority still managed a surplus of 72 thousand euro at the end of the year – mainly due to an increase in the number of Clare home owners with second properties – paying the NPPR-
This came to point 4 million over 2011 figures but the local authority warns that a large part of this is a once off only – as it arises from penalties of late payments.
A hike in collection rates for Water and Waste Charges from 41 to 50 percent also contributed to the budget surplus.
Meanwhile – there continues to be a significant rate of arrears in Commercial Rates payments- which represent over a 3rd of the council’s budget.
At the end of 2012 -it stood at over 9.8 million – up over 700 thousand at the end of 2011- however it would still be carrying forward the bulk of those arrears from 2011.
