Cheshire East Council Tax May Surge by 9.99% Amid Financial Struggles
Cheshire East Council is considering a 9.99% tax hike to address a significant funding gap
Cheshire East, Council Tax, Funding Gap, Labour, Conservative
Cheshire East: So, it looks like council tax bills might go up by nearly 10%. The local council is asking the government for permission to raise it beyond the usual limit.
They’re in a bit of a financial pickle, with an £18.3 million gap to fill. The council thinks this increase could help them get back on track.
A council spokesperson mentioned they need to look at all options for financial stability. It’s a tough time, and they want to make sure they can keep things running smoothly.
Now, if you have a Band D property, this hike could mean an extra £1.72 a week. Not a huge amount, but it adds up, right?
At a recent meeting, a Conservative councillor called the proposed increase “excessive.” He’s worried about how it might hit families with lower incomes.
On the flip side, the committee chair, who’s Labour, said those who can afford it should pitch in. She did acknowledge that even small amounts matter during tough times.
Another Labour councillor pointed out that if the council hadn’t frozen taxes back in the day, they could have raised a whopping £120 million more. That’s a lot of cash!
The Conservative councillor wasn’t backing down, saying he wouldn’t apologize for keeping taxes low. He reminded everyone that the previous Labour government had raised taxes quite a bit.
The council made it clear that asking for this increase doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. Any final decision will be made in February during the budget talks.
They also mentioned that past decisions not to raise taxes have really affected their spending power today. It’s a complicated situation for sure.