2.5 per cent tax hike 'set to help residents'
Council tax bills for Lincoln residents are to rise by 2.5 per cent from April, it has been confirmed.
The City of Lincoln Council, which a sets the rate for the district, rubber stamped the increase at a full council meeting last night.
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Council tax bills for Lincoln residents are to rise by 2.5 per cent from April.
This means the Tory-run authority's portion will increase by £5.76 per year on a Band D property, bringing the total to be collected yearly to £1481.22p – a rise of around 71p a week.
Leader of the council Councillor Darren Grice said: "Council tax is the third biggest income for the authority, way behind the grant from Central Government and the money we raise through charging for certain services.
"We appreciate that the economic situation for our residents is challenging and took this into consideration when setting the new rate."
West Lindsey District Council has also given the nod to a record-low increase of just 0.48 per cent, which amounts to around 90p a year for Band D properties.
New bills will be sent out by the end of the month.
The rate was discussed as part of the council's five-year financial plan, which included setting the net budget for the coming year at £16.8 million.
Plans outlined will see pensioners remain on the previous year's council tax rate, grants allocated to improve parks and play schemes and concessionary travel being taken over by Lincolnshire County Council next year.
According to the council this latest budget is about consolidating savings which have been made through a review of services, rather than reviewing how resources are used.
It was also announced members would have their allowances frozen and employees would not get any pay rise over the next financial year.
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by Ian, Lincoln
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 5:55PM
“Joe, I think you are half right. The trouble is a local income tax can be only levied on those who work.
You could still have six people living in a small house and only one (employed( person paying tax and a professional retired couple paying two lot of tax.
The poll tax (with the same allowances for those on benefits as council tax) is a fairer but a more unpopular way.”
by Joe, Lincoln
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 5:11PM
“Isn't it time for a local income tax to replace Council Tax altogether?
The present system is bizarre, in that it charges two retired pensioners who happen still to live in a large house as much as three times more than six wage earners living in a small house.
It's all just a tax in reality anyway - surely fairer to base it on income than on house values.”
by lynn, lincoln
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 4:15PM
“Shirley, I don't mind about the increase, what's the use anyway, we can't stop it happening. My husband and myself are both pensioners, albeit we're both not State pension age yet!”
by Ian, Lincoln
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 4:06PM
“'Then would you care to explain why it's gone up by around 105% since 1997'
That is something you will have to ask of the Labour Government about the way they fund councils and the shifting of the tax burden.”
by tommy tucker, boston
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 3:06PM
“Ken Barlow where are you now ?????
HANG YOUR HEAD IN SAME”