We deserve an apology over council tax
In a recent council statement, Cllr Barbara Hughes claimed that under the LibDems, Saffron Walden Town Council budget has only increased in line with inflation over the past four years. I was suspicious of this claim so checked their own figures. The bud
In a recent council statement, Cllr Barbara Hughes claimed that under the LibDems, Saffron Walden Town Council budget has only increased in line with inflation over the past four years.
I was suspicious of this claim so checked their own figures.
The budget for 2003/4 was set at £384,525. The LibDems' proposed budget for 2007/8 is £531,370. This represents a total increase of 38.2 per cent over the four-year period, which is substantially higher than the total rate of inflation of 11.9 per cent during the same four-year period.
Another way of looking at these increases is to take a look at the Band D Tax attributable to Saffron Walden Town Council. In the year 2003/4 the figure was £65.
You may also want to watch:
In the current year, 2006/7, this had risen to £95.
This is a massive increase of 47.9 per cent, which again is way above the rate of inflation.
Most Read
- 1 Saffron Walden shakeup in county council elections
- 2 Local elections 2021: UDC ward results for Newport and The Sampfords
- 3 Market Square event organisers "amazed" at popularity of dine-out event
- 4 New mayor, deputy mayor and leader appointed for town council
- 5 Here's what you can do from May 17 as Covid restrictions ease
- 6 Old pirate ship climbing frame is removed for safety
- 7 New Walden mayor announces his charities for the year
- 8 Stick to the paths while bluebells bloom, says Essex Wildlife Trust
- 9 Standing for election for a seat on Essex County Council on May 6, 2021
- 10 Sir David Attenborough, JK Rowling inspire Debden
Even if the rate for 2007/8 remains static when announced, the four-year period will still remain well above the rate of inflation. Perhaps Cllr Hughes and her fellow LibDem councillors may have wished the rate of budget growth and the related tax increase had been in line with inflation.
Unfortunately their wishes and the reality are far apart, which is indeed unfortunate for those who have to pay these council taxes.
Instead of claiming credit for their imaginary achievement, Cllr Hughes and her colleagues owe us all an apology for this failure in their financial management.
Richard L Harrington
Saffron Walden
