No cuts to frontline services in Dorset
Council tax across Dorset will go up by 4% from April
Dorset County Council has agreed its budget for the forthcoming financial year.
Frontline services will be protected from cuts.
The budget of ÂŁ348m for 2023-24 was approved last night.
Council tax will increase by just under 2% and the adult social care precept by 2%.
This is less than the maximum 5% increase available to councils, as outlined in the Government’s Spending Review in December 2022.
The increase is equivalent to ÂŁ1.40 extra per week for a Band D property.
Cllr Gary Suttle, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy, said:
"We have developed this balanced budget in a national context of significant financial challenge.
"Our overriding aim has been to protect the essential frontline council services on which local residents and businesses rely.
"The proposals do include a council tax increase; however, we have kept to it to the minimum possible despite the current high level of inflation.
"And we continue to provide a range of support for those residents hardest hit by the cost of living.
"Since becoming a unitary council in 2019, we have made efficiency savings of ÂŁ76 million.
"This money has been reinvested to protect frontline services, including funding the growing need for adult social care with our ageing population.
"Our prudent budget management has meant that Dorset has not faced the same cuts to essential services as many other areas.
"However, we continue to lobby Government for fairer funding for Dorset so that we can reduce the burden on local taxpayers in future".