Max council tax increases
Discussion
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/29/h...
Increasing council tax for all is one thing, but then cutting other taxes doesn't seem to make sense. Unless you are just doing it to get votes.
We had a 15% council tax increase last year. Hope they don't try it again this year - no doubt they will try to get the maximum they can get away with.
Increasing council tax for all is one thing, but then cutting other taxes doesn't seem to make sense. Unless you are just doing it to get votes.
We had a 15% council tax increase last year. Hope they don't try it again this year - no doubt they will try to get the maximum they can get away with.
Not sure about your local council, but where I live, they have gone for the maximum 4.99% increase, this was assumed by the Government when they set the budgets for councils.
50% of the money in my area goes to Adult Social Care, and I suspect this is only likely to increase in the future. The proposal to get people to pay more for their care was rejected, and so it comes back to the local council to cover.
Council should publish their budget and so you can see where the money goes.
Locally we special SEND school that currently has two pupils, costing £250,000 per year
50% of the money in my area goes to Adult Social Care, and I suspect this is only likely to increase in the future. The proposal to get people to pay more for their care was rejected, and so it comes back to the local council to cover.
Council should publish their budget and so you can see where the money goes.
Locally we special SEND school that currently has two pupils, costing £250,000 per year
Burrow01 said:
Council should publish their budget and so you can see where the money goes.
Ours did this financial year for the first time and included a break down of how the income is spent. https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/22403/Budget-...
The biggest issue for me is that not only do we see big tax increases year on year we see reduced services in most areas as well. I genuinely hand no idea where the money goes.
Our latest service reduction is the removal of the village school bus.....this wasn't a free service but has been deemed to be too costly so scrapped altogether mid school year.
Our latest service reduction is the removal of the village school bus.....this wasn't a free service but has been deemed to be too costly so scrapped altogether mid school year.
CAH706 said:
The biggest issue for me is that not only do we see big tax increases year on year we see reduced services in most areas as well. I genuinely hand no idea where the money goes.
Our latest service reduction is the removal of the village school bus.....this wasn't a free service but has been deemed to be too costly so scrapped altogether mid school year.
If you look at the Gateshead budget, 29% on Adult Social Care - probably invisible to most working people, but the major cost for almost every council.Our latest service reduction is the removal of the village school bus.....this wasn't a free service but has been deemed to be too costly so scrapped altogether mid school year.
https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/22403/Budget-...
Currently the local council will to pay towards the cost of your social care if you have less than £23,250 in savings, From October 2025 this will rise to £100,000 in savings, so imagine what your Council will be spending on it then...
I am not against provision for caring for the elderly, but we have to recognise the costs, and the fact that someone has to pay them
Burrow01 said:
I am not against provision for caring for the elderly, but we have to recognise the costs, and the fact that someone has to pay them
The NHS has a centralised budget through tax/national insurance, I don't see why social care has to be taxed locally through council tax.Rivenink said:
All this complaining about council taxes going up...
Not one linking it to the reduction in central government funding for councils over the Tories 14 years in power.
Welcome to the Tory stealth taxes.
Over the years there's been a great deal of "Old Fred's retiring next year- let's give him a promotion so he gets a better pension". Don't tell me it doesn't happen- I've seen it, friends elsewhere have seen it.Not one linking it to the reduction in central government funding for councils over the Tories 14 years in power.
Welcome to the Tory stealth taxes.
This is just a single example of the waste & profligacy in councils- it's only taxpayers' money so why be efficient?
I have a collection of apologies from the council for their cock-ups- cheaper for them than doing their job properly. Even when I've told them the answers to a few things they've still managed to get it wrong. It's notable that all errors were in their financial favour.
They're incompetent at so many things, their hubris is astounding and I have proof that they're corrupt but they're effectively a law unto themselves so all I can do is regard them with utter contempt.
s1962a said:
Burrow01 said:
I am not against provision for caring for the elderly, but we have to recognise the costs, and the fact that someone has to pay them
The NHS has a centralised budget through tax/national insurance, I don't see why social care has to be taxed locally through council tax.Government is very happy for everyone to shake their fists at local Councils and rant about CEO pay and shiny offices, as it deflects from their lack of funding for the problem . The question is though, would you rather pay half of your current council tax in extra income tax, in return for a 50% reduction in Council Tax
Biggy Stardust said:
Rivenink said:
All this complaining about council taxes going up...
Not one linking it to the reduction in central government funding for councils over the Tories 14 years in power.
Welcome to the Tory stealth taxes.
Over the years there's been a great deal of "Old Fred's retiring next year- let's give him a promotion so he gets a better pension". Don't tell me it doesn't happen- I've seen it, friends elsewhere have seen it.Not one linking it to the reduction in central government funding for councils over the Tories 14 years in power.
Welcome to the Tory stealth taxes.
This is just a single example of the waste & profligacy in councils- it's only taxpayers' money so why be efficient?
Just that the massive funding cuts from central government are the main issue.
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