The unaudited annual financial statement of Castlebar Town Council to the end of 2012 was down for approval at last night’s meeting of the council. The statement showed that at the end of December last year that the town council had collected €2,780,456 in commercial rates. This figure represented 69 per cent of the total of €4,136,597 that was due for collection, with €1,266,141 owed in arrears to the town council. The council at the start of 2012 had an arrears of €1,064,081 owed to it and expected collection of €4,058,517 for the year ahead, with the council writing off €986,001 over the year leaving €4,136,597 to be collected during 2012.
According to the financial statement prepared by town manager Seamus Granahan 31 per cent of the arrears owed to the council related to three related businesses where a court ruled judgment had been put in place. It also said that the council would be looking to retrieve the rates owed to it by way of agreement and by legal means where no other option is available.
