The Waterford City and County Council budget for 2025 has been officially passed at City Hall this afternoon.
The Budget, with a total expenditure of approximately €194 million, represents a 5.5% increase compared to 2024.
Several areas have seen an increase in this year's budget.
Housing: Funding for maintenance and upgrade of the Council’s 6,500 social homes increased by almost 50%.
Roads: An additional €500,000 will be provided for local road maintenance.
Tourism and Economic Development: An additional €500,000 for cultural and tourism initiatives, including implementation of the Waterford Destination Experience Development Plan, and an additional €200,000 to promote Waterford as a business destination.
Environmental Services: An additional €215,000 provided for street cleaning.
Recreation and Amenity: Increased funding for libraries and festivals.
Opposition
There was strong opposition from Sinn Féin, Social Democrats, and Independents with Cllrs. Joeanne Bailey (Sinn Féin); John Hearne (Sinn Féin); Jim Griffin (Sinn Féin); Pat Fitzgerald (Sinn Féin); Catherine Burke (Sinn Féin); Conor D. McGuinness (Sinn Féin); Mary Roche (Social Democrats) & Joe O'Riordan (Independent) all opposing the Budget.
Concerns raised against the budget included the Local Property Tax, which Sinn Féin in particular were vocal about and strongly opposed to it. Waterford Council is expected to receive €21,722,308 from the tax locally.
It was originally proposed that commercial rates were to be increased by 3%, however, councillors called for some relief to be given to businesses.
It was proposed at the meeting that a waiver for the increase, for any business across the City and County paying less than €5,000 in rates be increased to €10,000 which would fall under a 'Prompt Payment Incentive'.
This would allow 570 ratepayers to avail of the Prompt Payment Initiative, meaning 85% of all business ratepayers in Waterford would not have to pay the extra 3%.
The meeting was subsequently adjourned for 10 minutes, for officials to consider the proposals by councillors.
CEO of Waterford Council, Sean McKeown returned to the chamber advising the following.
"This increase would adequate in a loss of €100,000 to the council for the coming year, however, other areas can be compensated to make up for it including pensions and lump sums within Waterford Council totaling €10.4 million for 2024 with the actual outturn projected to be €11.7 million. However, in the budget book circulated this year, it noted €11.8 million as being the outturn. Considering this, if we reduce it to €11.7 million, it would still be adequate and allow us to pass the amendment."
This does however mean that the council is €1.3 million in the red for pensions and lump sums going into 2024.
A vote was then put to the chamber for councillors to decide if they wished to pass the budget. However, there were heated exchanges after the vote as some councillors thought it was a vote for an increase in the waiver amount for businesses (as mentioned above) from five to ten thousand euro, and not the actual Budget itself.
The meeting was adjourned for a second time, with some councillors voicing their frustration across the chamber saying they wanted another vote.
Council officials deliberated with their legal team for several minutes before the meeting resumed and a second vote commenced.
The final vote for the budget was as follows:
- 21 in favor
- 8 against
- 3 councillors were not present
A copy of the full budget can be inspected free of charge by any member of the public at the Customer Services Desks, Baileys New Street, Waterford and Davitts Quay, Dungarvan.
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