Big increases in council tax on the way in 2018
IT’S TOUGH in local government at the moment, with cuts to budgets continuing. All of Wales’ 22 local authorities were told by the Welsh Government they would get less money, with the exception of Cardiff.
Then, in the final budget, millions more were promised to local authorities but many still face huge gaps to fill and need to find millions of pounds.
They are all having to try to make ends meet and one way to do that is to increase council tax.
None of the indicative figures below have been approved yet and they will not be until budget meetings, which usually take place in February
The leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, Debbie Wilcox, has warned people should prepare for a 5% rise.
On average, council tax in Wales is £1,251 per home, with a 5% rise adding an extra £62.50 a year.
A WLGA spokesman said: “According to the Wales Audit Office core funding for local government has reduced by nearly £800m, or 20%, since 2011-12.
“All local services have felt the effects of an austerity agenda, with some services such as planning and regulation having experienced reductions of 40% to 50% after adjusting for inflation.
“Local authorities have had to make very difficult decisions, including increasing council tax, in order to try and meet the shortfall in central government funding and to maintain the quality of services expected by residents.
“Local government faces annual pressures of around £200m and it is unlikely that future central government funding will cover projected inflationary and demographic pressures. Further cuts announced in this year’s local government settlement mean that councils will have little recourse but to continue to make difficult decisions and prioritise services in the future.”