SNP call to freeze council tax
The SNP group is calling on Perth and Kinross Council to freeze the council tax rate for 2021/22.
But a council paper says the move would see cash-strapped PKC receive £1.2 million less in revenue.
Councillors will meet on Wednesday (February 24) to set the council tax rate ahead of its budget meeting next month.
In her draft budget, finance secretary Kate Forbes said the Scottish Government would give councils their share of a £90 million budget - but only if they freeze council tax.
In March 2020, PKC approved a three-year 4.28 per cent rise in council tax.
A report going before PKC this week states maintaining the 4.28 per cent rise in the 2021/22 financial year would generate approximately £4m of revenue for the local authority.
If PKC voted instead to access the Scottish Government funding - and not raise council tax - PKC would get £2.8 milllion.
Councillors vote on whether or not to freeze council tax for the forthcoming financial year when they meet virtually on Wednesday.
If councillors vote to freeze the council tax for 2021/22, council officers propose PKC’s revenue budget meeting takes place on March 10 rather than March 3.
This will allow officers to both update the 2021/22 provisional revenue budget based upon a council tax freeze. It also gives officers the chance to incorporate any funding position changes arising from the UK budget on March 3 and/or the final stage of the Scottish Budget bill on March 9.
The council’s SNP group has told the PA to say it is urging PKC to freeze council tax to reduce the financial burden on Perth and Kinross households.