Trim businesses and rate paying

Dear sir - Since the passing of the budget in Trim last Tuesday, a number of traders in the town have been onto us councillors about the change in the parking fees and removal of the 'ten minutes grace'. I understand this will affect business and it is a change that none of us wanted to make. The fact of the matter is that we would not be in this situation if we received all the rates we were due. I accept that times are hard for everybody and people are finding it hard to make ends meet. It appears that it is, in a lot of cases, the businesses that are really struggling that are paying their rates. There are some businesses that would certainly appear to be able to pay that are not doing so. All in all we are owed well over a quarter of a million euro in rates. This money is factored into each budget and when we do not receive it we are left with no choice but to cut. This year we effectively budgeted just for wages and equipment for council staff to do their jobs and we were still severely in the red. We took the decision to raise parking, really because we had no choice. We did not raise rates because that would only affect the people who are already paying their rates. To give you an idea, all school meals have been removed, all amenity and arts grants for clubs and groups have been removed. All funding for the St Patrick's Day parade has been removed. It was with a heavy heart that we passed this budget but we had no choice because we are not receiving the rates owed to us. So it angers me greatly when I hear traders telling us that what we did was incorrect. Anyone who pays their rates of course has a right to complain. I would, however, suggest that these complaints are aimed at the businesses not paying the rates. When a town the size of Trim has this big a hole in the rates then our hands are tied. Yours, Cllr Donall O'Brien, Trim.