Police precept in North Yorkshire to rise by 1.99%

The charge for North Yorkshire Police is set to increase by 1.99% so officers can better protect vulnerable people, the county’s police boss has said.

Author: Local Democracy Reporter, Jacob WebsterPublished 5th Feb 2021

The charge for North Yorkshire Police is set to increase by 1.99% so officers can better protect vulnerable people, the county’s police boss has said.

Julia Mulligan, the police, fire and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, said the rise in the precept – included in council tax bills – will also help increase the number of officers on the ground.

The rise was agreed today by the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel. It amounts to an increase of £5.29 a year for someone living in a Band D property.

Ms Mulligan told the panel:

“I am really mindful that having had significant increases in the past and the service being relatively well funded now is not the time to put a significant additional tax burden on the public.

“My proposal is for a rise of 1.99%. That isn’t a generous proposal for the police who will have to work hard to make sure they can deliver services within budget”

The increase will come into force from April and the same 1.99% rise will also be applied to charges for fire services – an increase of £1.45.

Ms Mulligan added:

“Our emergency services continue to do everything they can to keep us safe and feeling safe, and it is important we ensure they can continue to do that facing challenges that no-one would have predicted just one year ago.

“I am pleased the Police, Fire and Crime Panel agreed with the proposal which will keep us safe and feeling safe while not placing an unfair burden on families facing unprecedented pressures on their finances.”

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council is proposing a 3.49% increase to its proportion of bills. This equates to a £47.58 rise and includes a general council tax increase of 1.99% and setting the adult social care precept at 1.5%. It will be voted on next Wednesday.

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