Conservative councillor Mark Healey, authority chairman, said he will lobby government to get "a better grant settlement next time".

BBC: Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue faces ?5.5m budget cut

Mark Foxall from the authority said it was unclear if the damage was accidental or not.

BBC: Shrewsbury Cemetery graves extensively damaged

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act gave the Securities and Exchange Commission the authority to suspend the mark-to-market rules, which went into effect in the fall of 2007, just in time for the credit crisis.

FORBES: Credit Crisis