'Bus tax' in Peterborough & Cambridgeshire could treble to fund improvements
The Combined Authority says it needs a £7.5m a year investment
People in Cambridgeshire could see part of their council tax bill trebled in order to help pay for improvements to bus services.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is considering increasing its share of council tax from £12 a year for a Band D property to £36 a year.
The increase to the Mayoral precept is one of the options being considered to fund the £7.5million a year investment the Combined Authority said is needed for the county’s bus network.
The Mayoral precept was added to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough council tax bill for the first time this year to help fund the bus services at risk of being cut.
A final decision on whether the increase goes ahead will be made in January next year - a consultation on the proposals is planned.
The improvements would include upgrading bus stops and shelters, improving the synchronisation of the bus services with other networks, and reducing the fares to £1 a journey.
The Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said the focus at this point was agreeing to consult on the budget and not to make any final decision.