The UK government is allowing several local authorities to raise council tax by more than the usual 5% limit due to financial pressures. This 'bespoke additional council tax flexibility' could see increases of up to 9% for areas like Windsor, Maidenhead, Birmingham, Bradford, Newham, Somerset, and Trafford. The government cites the need to support struggling councils, particularly in adult and children's social care, as the reason for this decision.
The government is allowing several local authorities to raise council tax by more than the maximum amount this year.It's no secret councils are strapped for cash, struggling to provide basic services while demand increases and running costs spiral. Specific weak points lie with the failure across adult and children's social care and special educational needs services.Inevitably, it means council tax must go up - but in some places it seems, much more than others.
How do council tax rises work?In order to keep up with demands, councils are allowed to raise council tax usually by up to 5%, broken down into 3% core spending with an additional 2% for social care.At the moment, a principle exists which prevents more than a 5% increase to council tax without a referendum, mostly to protect taxpayers from excessive increases.
COUNCIL TAX LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCES SOCIAL CARE TAXATION
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