Over €90 million spent on Laois in 2022 with money left over
Laois is in the black, with money in the kitty despite a whopping €91.123 million spend in 2022 across the county on services and public housing.
The biggest amount ever was spent on social housing in Laois in 2022, at €33.5 million. That was an increase of €10.1m on 2021 and €17.9m on 2020.
The next biggest spend was almost €23m on maintaining and improving the county's road network.
The year ended with €77,351 still in the kitty.
However there were still areas where more money was spent than had been budgeted for.
Laois County Council's Director of Services for Finance is Gerry Murphy.
"There was additional expenditure over what was agreed at our budget meeting. We got extra grants for roads. One of the biggest overspends was in maintenance of houses, up by €207,000, and on relets up by €334,000.
"That was funded by the additional income from rents and savings in other areas. That could be things like staff leaving and a two or three month gap before the position was filled," he explained.
Other overspends included €208k to help resettle the Syrian community, totalling €4.116k under Community and Enterprise spending.
There was €93,361 on public toilets, €18,531 more than budgeted, funded by savings in the water services area.
The fire service cost €395k more than expected, at €4.62m. That overspend was on extra payroll, training, payments to other county's fire services for assistance, gratuities, equipment and higher energy and fuel costs.
The arts got €310k more than budgeted, at €1.2m in 2022. This was down to Local Live Performance Schemes and Creative Ireland funds all from the Department of Arts.
Covid costs were still impacting the county's budget in Spring 2022 he said.
"The hospitality sector rates was down €261,000," he said.
However Laois taxpayers are among the best behaved in Ireland.
"Our revenue collection rates are at 97%, that probably in the top five of the country. Our housing loan collections have increased to 81%," the finance director said.
Councillors had plenty of ideas on where to spend any extra money.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald asked for a special new budget ringfenced for fixing footpaths.
"That is one of the biggest problems we have as councillors," she said.
"Lights are a huge problem for us as as well. There's a few long lanes need to be done. When you go to mass there are two or three surrounding us asking when we are going to do them," said Cllr Ollie Clooney.
"The biggest thing I get is the LIS (Local Improvement Scheme laneway grants)," said Cllr Willie Aird.
"It's totally unacceptable that it can be four years before we get a lane done, when there's a €16bn surplus in Government," he said.
Cllr Ben Brennan wants more money for graveyards to add toilets and cut grass.
"I'm wondering is it gone to Offaly," he said.