Councillors reject proposed GMA funding figure for Mayo county town and district

COUNCILLORS in Castlebar have rejected the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) being proposed for next year.

The funding stream is available to elected members of Mayo County Council to spend on community projects and organisations locally.

The allocation for 2026 was circulated to them ahead of their October municipal district meeting, with a statutory obligation to either accept or reject it before November 17.

Last year's allocation was €490,000 and it's proposed that the figure will remain unchanged for 2026.

There was unanimous agreement with Councillor Michael Kilcoyne's 'thumbs down' for the figure proposed.

In the past they had always rejected the budget sent to them, he said, and even more so this year with additional money coming in from car parking charges, property tax, 'and even from the dead'.

“We reject it and express our disappointment that it should be much greater,” said Councillor Kilcoyne.

Areas where funding was invested this year include replacing the canopy at Market Square, the mini-marathon, Christmas lights and events, and graveyards, among other projects.

(Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme)