Greedy increase is an absolute insult

IT IS with some concern that Carmarthenshire County Council are considering an increase of 4.39% to the council tax for 2022-23 at a time when families are faced with the cost of living rising at its fastest rate for 30 years. With the spiralling cost of food and heating bills increasing at a frightening rate, many will already have to make some very difficult decisions in relation to how to make ends meet without the extra burden of a 4%-plus increase in council tax.

Carmarthenshire County Council is to receive £26m more from the Wales Government for 2022-23 which will total £311.6m, a rise of 9.2 % from this financial year. The costs presented by Covid, I am informed, can be claimed back from Cardiff, with £50m already reclaimed/received, and the council has millions of pounds in assets held in reserve. It can and does of course raise revenue by other means and for this greedy council to therefore even consider such an increase in council tax for those living in Carmarthenshire at this unprecedented time is an absolute insult to us all.

Increasing council tax is the easy option and it now appears that our councillors will soon be considering whether to accept a 16.9% pay increase as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, to be paid for from the public purse. This is quite incredible when most workers are receiving 3% or less.

The leader of the council states that setting the budget involves difficult decisions, but may I remind him that there will be some of those living in Carmarthenshire who will have to make even more difficult decisions as to how to keep their heads above water in the coming financial year. A Williams Address supplied