The rate for Westport town remains unchanged following the town’s budget meeting which took place last Thursday evening.
Town manager Joe Beirne recommended in his manager’s report to not increase the rate from 63.55.
Councillor Michael McLaughlin proposed that a music or cultural weekend should be held in June which will kickstart the tourist season and he asked that €20,000 be set aside for this.
Funding of €20,000 in was also sought by Cathaoirleach of the town council, Cllr Christy Hyland, for a CCTV system for the town.
Cllr Myles Staunton proposed that amenity grants should not be reduced to €30,000 but left at €40,000. The councillor said that festival funding should be reduced from €40,000 to €30,000 and supported the funding of €20,000 for the new festival.
The Fine Gael councillor said that the planning estimate could be increased by €20,000 and that emergency maintenance money be reduced by €10,000.
In order to balance the books €10,000 was needed to be cut from the budget. After a short adjournment senior executive officer Martin Keating said that this money would come from reducing financial management by €5,000 and increasing the car parking income by €5,000.
