Wiltshire Council tax bills rising by 4.99% from April
The Budget's been approved, with a precept rise just under the maximum allowed
We'll have to pay an extra 4.99% towards council tax in Wiltshire from April.
The Council's agreed their budget for the next financial year, increasing the precept by just under the maximum amount allowed.
It includes a 2.99% rise for the general council tax and 2% extra on the Adult Social Care Levy.
It works out as an additional £1.57 a week on the precept for the average Band D property.
Overall, it means Wiltshire Council will have a budget of £466 million for the 2023/24 financial year.
They're planning to add £69 million into frontline service budgets, as a result of the increased council taxes.
The fiscal plan for the authority also sets aside £13 million of their reserves to go into 'business priorities', instead of them being needed to help balance the books.
Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said:
“It never gets any easier to set a budget, particularly given the ongoing uncertainty and huge challenges brought on by the national and international picture. However, we are confident we have set a budget that can help us achieve our clear vision over the next few years and one that allows us to continue to invest and provide the services that people rely on in a manageable self-sufficient way, with a strategic focus on prevention.
“Our Business Plan guides every single thing we do as a council and it gives us a solid foundation to build on and crystal clear direction, and that’s allowed us to plan for the next three years, not just one. Working in this long-term strategic way means we’re able to control our costs and do things a little different than other councils and much to the benefit of our communities, for instance not having to spend reserves to balance the books but using them on projects that directly support our residents.
“Throughout the year we’ve worked hard with our senior officers and have been extremely thorough in looking at and questioning everything we do as a council and ensure it is being done in the most efficient way possible while providing value to residents. We know it’s a challenging time for people and we’ve had to make difficult decisions due to the huge inflationary challenges we’re all facing, but a great deal of thought and discussion has gone into every single one so that every penny is spent well and wisely.
“We’ll continue to support the most vulnerable in our county, invest in key priorities and projects such as our road infrastructure, climate projects and our high streets – and we’ll help people through the cost-of-living crisis as much as we can and ensure those who need our support gets it quickly.
“It has been a challenging few years with the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living-crisis driven by fuel and energy inflation, but there is still cause for much optimism for a bright future for the county and everyone at the council will work hard to achieve it."