Echo readers react to 3.99% increase in city’s council tax

There was a mixed reaction from Echo readers to Sunderland City Council’s decision to increase council tax by 3.99% so they can continue to put money into local services.

It was announced that Sunderland City Council plans to increase the rate by almost four per cent when city leaders set out the budget for 2020-21.

The increase was passed at the budget meeting held this week

This is what readers had to say on the Echo’s Facebook page to the increase.

Lesley Harvey Dawson said: “I would happily pay more if it went to the right services, no libraries, no tree cutting unless you live at East Herrington and reduced refuse collection and more money went into the services people actually need.”

Rebecca Royle said: “I wouldn’t mind the council tax bill increasing if we got a fair say over where the money went.”

Treena Cooke said: “So we pay more, and our ‘services’ are getting less and less?”

Kirsty Dickson said: “Why should we pay more when our services have been severely cut? Less police, less fire service, less road sweepers and public cleansing, less bin collections and now pay extra for a brown bin and bulky collections.

“Pretty sure that these are the main services my council tax pays for, but where have they gone and exactly what is it now being spent on?”

Peter Hill said: “If it keeps going up at this rate I’ll be paying £214 a month in 10 years, I can see my state pension in 28 years being given in one hand and paid out in the other to the council for my council tax alone.”

Tony Prescott said: “Sunderland still has the cheapest council tax in the north east.