Council tax conundrum
SHOULD council tax be increased to protect vital services or should it be frozen for one year?
That’s the question facing Rother councillors who want residents’ views on the matter.
The council is consulting on its draft budget and has two options - either increase council tax by £5.64 on average for the whole year or hold it at the current amount and accept a one-year only government grant.
RDC has seen its grant cut by almost £1.7m (30 per cent) over the last two years.
The government has offered Rother a one-off payment of £177,000 in order to freeze council tax, meaning that people won’t have to pay more this year.
A Rother District Council spokesman said: “The council is aware the economic situation means this freeze could be valuable for families suffering in an economic climate with few pay rises, increased living costs and limited job prospects.
“However, this freeze doesn’t meet the full extent of the funding cut or the impact of high inflation on its costs. It is likely that, if accepted, Rother will need to reduce or stop some services to balance the books from next year.”
Alternatively, RDC can reject the government money to freeze council tax for 2012/13 and decide on a small increase.
A rise in council tax provides guaranteed income for the future which will help the council continue to deliver services.
• Tell the cCouncil what you think by emailing finance@rother.gov.uk or writing to; Draft Budget Consultation, Head of Finance, Rother District Council, Town Hall, Bexhill, East Sussex TN39 3JX.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
