Donegal County Council has the highest deficit of any local authority according to a report in today’s Irish Times. The report compares the findings of audits of 2010 accounts.
The deficit identified in Donegal was €12.7 million, with particular concern expressed about the amount of outstanding money owed to the council in commercial rates and water charges.
The report also highlighted the paying of what’s been termed “Donegal rates” which were above national guidelines.
This, the report found, added over 1.4 million to the council’s wage bill. At the time, the county manager said the extra payments were linked to a Labour Court decision, and only affected 200 staff members.
Commenting on the deficit, County Manager Seamus Neely said the council is in discussion with the business people in arrears and payment arrangements are being made.
On the deficit, he said it’s not a matter of the council being overbudget at any single point in time………..
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