Maximum council tax rise to hit residents

THE rates that Council Tax payers in Calderdale will pay from April has been decided as the council sets its budget for 2024-25.

Against a background of cuts necessary to enable it to balance the books, Calderdale Council approved Cabinetrecommended proposals to achieve savings necessary.

That means levying the maximum 4.99 per cent Council Tax rise - including two per cent ring-fenced to help pay for social care - which the Government allows councils to raise without holding a local referendum.

In 2024-25, the annual levy will be made on properties in the bands as follows - wards which also have a town or parish council will pay more in varying amounts to also cover the cost of running those councils.

Standard property valuation bands will pay as follows: Band A, £1,449.48; Band B, £1,691.04; Band C, £1,932.63; Band D, £2,174.21; Band E, £2,657.36; Band F, £3,140.51; Band G, £3,623.68; Band H, £4,348.42.

The council’s revenue budget - which covers day-to-day spending - is just over £219 million for 2024-25.

The rate also includes other levies, for West Yorkshire Police and the Fire and Rescue Authority, for example.

At a time when many councils are struggling for a variety of factors, and some have had to declare effective bankruptcy, one reason is spiralling social care costs for adults and children.

The packages, which councils legally have to provide, as well as councillors often saying it should provide these for some of the most vulnerable citizens, now take up 70 per cent of Calderdale’s annual revenue budget.

That only leaves 30 per cent of the revenue budget for everything else.

Capital spending, the majority from grants and usually for specific purposes plus other sources but with some prudentially borrowed, usually over longer periods at special rates but carrying interest costs, is budgeted separately.

Now the budget has been approved, bills will shortly be going out to residents for the coming year.

One reason [for the 4.99% rise] is spiralling social care costs for adults and children