AT IT’S MEETING this week Sligo County Council by a majority of 17 to 3 voted to approve over expenditure of €2.9 million.

Addressing the meeting Cllr Declan Bree said “When the County Manager presented his draft Budget for 2011 to this Council I pointed out to councillors that it bore little resemblance to reality and that it would sink us into deeper debt.   I warned councillors of the danger of voting for it.   However the Fine Gael and Labour councillors refused to listen to reason and they voted to adopt the County Managers budget which, according to the Financial Statement for 2011, has led to a further deficit of €2.9 million in the Council’s revenue account.

“Having plunged the Council into further debt the County Manager is now asking councillors to approve over-expenditure of the €2.9 million.   Given the debts which the Council has run up over the past number of years what is being proposed here can only be considered as utter madness and totally unsustainable.  I would urge its rejection.  I certainly will not be voting for the County Manager’s proposal.” said Cllr Bree.