The elderly, libraries, subsidies hit by local authority spending cuts

Local councils are planning to slash spending on swimming pools, libraries, grants to interest groups and on extra care for the elderly in order to balance their books next year, Nos tv reports.

The claim is based on the spending plans of 226 of the country’s 430 local authority areas, who plan combined spending cuts of €600m next year and at least €815m in 2012.
The budget shortfall is due to extra spending on welfare benefits and reduction in income from selling land for building. Extra cuts, stemming from the government’s pledge to cut spending by €18bn by 2015, are also inevitable, Nos says.
Civil servants
The biggest reduction already planned is on spending on civil servants, which will have a direct effect on residents, council chiefs say.
‘This means, for example, that people’s questions will be answered more slowly,’ a Heiloo council spokesman told Nos.
Cuts in the local authority apparatus were named by 148 councils. Sixty said they are cutting subsidies, 40 are reducing extra help for the elderly and handicapped, 34 will reduce maintenance on roads and 16 are raising local taxes.