Dorset Council taxes could rise to 'protect services from cuts'
We're set to face a 4% increase in our bills from April
Dorset Council's looking to raise our council taxes by a total of 4% in the next financial year, 2023/24.
The authority's proposing to increase the overall precept by 2%, along with another 2% in the adult social care levy.
That's less than the maximum 5% that the Government says local councils are allowed to increase bills by.
It would work out as an extra £1.41 in our bills every week, if the increase is approved by Dorset Council.
Why increase the precept?
Dorset Council has to provide a balanced budget by law, and say their proposed council tax increase would help to achieve that.
They've said they'll have a total net budget for 2023/24 of £348 million.
That's expected to 'see essential frontline council services continuing to be provided to residents and businesses, protected from cuts'.
Cllr Gary Suttle, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy, said:
“We have carefully developed proposals to deliver a balanced budget, in a national context of significant financial challenge. Our overriding aim is 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. We continue to provide financial support for those hardest hit.
"Since becoming a unitary council in 2019, we have made efficiency savings of £76 million, and 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.”
What happens now?
The budget setting process takes place in several stages.
The proposals are considered by two scrutiny committees, then reviewed and submitted to Cabinet on 23rd January 2023, and then to Full Council in February for final approval.