Glasgow City Council £38m budget overspend
Glasgow City Council is grappling with a significant financial emergency, having overspent their budget by more than £38 million, due to rising costs in key areas in Glasgow. The council now faces a tough decision with the budget.
With energy bills and operational costs increasing at an outrageous rate, the Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability department (NRS) have an overspend of £23 million alone. Similarly, educational services have been hit with a £13.2 million overspend, mostly driven by rising pupil numbers and more complex education needs.
This has led to the council considering budget cuts to essential services, including education, in a bid to recover the budget loss. The proposed cuts to education are expected to save around £8 million, however, they have been met with widespread criticism from many unions in Glasgow.
As Glasgow City Council prepares to review its budget and finalise decision on potential cuts on Thursday, the future of Glasgow’s key services remains uncertain. The council are under increasing pressure to ensure that the city’s most vulnerable residents aren’t negatively affected by and reductions.
The coming weeks will be critical for determining how the council navigates the financial challenges that they will face while trying to safeguard essential public services.
