COUNCIL tax in Warrington could rise by nearly 4% when this year’s budget is announced in March.
Warrington Borough Council has begun its 2016/17 budget consultation with residents, partners and businesses and is seeking feedback.
Russ Bowden
This includes the government’s “social care precept” on council tax of 2%, which if agreed will raise £1.6m specifically for adult social care services. This is on top of the proposed 1.98% increase.
Cllr Russ Bowden, executive board member for corporate finance said: “We have saved £92million from our budget since 2010 and we have to save another £35million by 2019. This will mean in reality that we have a reduction of £1,396 per household since 2010.
“Our social care costs are increasing significantly and we need to act now. An additional two per cent precept won’t solve everything but it will certainly help.”
Cllr Terry O’Neill, leader of the council, added: “I feel strongly that the two per cent increase for Adult Social Care should be labelled the ‘Osborne Tax’ because the government should be paying for it and not local tax payers in Warrington.”
The proposals, available online at www.warrington.gov.uk/budget, aim to save £22m and will be put to the council’s executive board in February 2016 and full council in March.
People have until February 15 to give feedback.
