It has been claimed householders across County Clare could have been facing more stringent charges, if the local authority had failed to adopt the budget.Clare FM News reports that Council members voted overwhelmingly on Friday evening to accept the plan for 2009, despite a serious shortfall in funding from Central Government for services. The budget will see commercial rates go up by 3.8 percent, the introduction of a recycling charge, and a serious cut in funding for road services. However, Shannon Councillor Patricia Mc Carthy said the alternative would have been far worse, had the council been dissolved and a commissioner appointed to pass the budget
Four councillors rejected the budget due mainly to the recycling charge and the cuts in road services. Green party councillor Brian Meaney (left) was among them who said it was with a heavy heart he saw the plan being accepted by his colleagues.
