Council tax in East Suffolk to go up by around £5 a year
Budget plans would see the authority's share of council tax increase by almost 3%
Residents in East Suffolk are likely to see their council tax increase by around £4.95 a year.
Budget plans and five-year financial expectations approved by cabinet on Tuesday included a 2.81 percent council tax rise – meaning band D homeowners pay £4.95 more.
The plans will need to be approved by full council on 22 February to be implemented from April.
Cllr Maurice Cook, cabinet member for resources, said: “The proposal to use in-year saving reserves to fund budget gaps remains the approach and a balanced budget is presented for 2022/23 and 2022/24.”
Reserve balances in place in 2022 are expected to have reduced by £33 million in 2027.
After balanced budgets between 2022 and 2024, estimated gaps of £4.6 million in 2024/25, £7.9 million in 2025/26 and £7.8 million in 2026/27 are included in the budget.
The report presented to cabinet by Cllr Cook states: “A combination of actions will be needed to ensure a longer-term sustainable position.
“This will include a phased use of reserves, maximisation of income, and the achievement of significant levels of savings.”
The budget plans show an improved position since December, when the government’s provisional local government finance settlement set out an additional £1.1 million for the council from April.
Council tax increase proposals for 2023/24 at other Suffolk councils are as follows: a 2.99 percent increase by Babergh District Council; a 2.97 percent increase by Ipswich Borough Council; a 2.6 percent increase for West Suffolk Council and no increase for Mid Suffolk District Council.
Suffolk County Council is looking to increase its council tax portion by two percent and its adult social care precept by two percent.
These proposals are provisional for now, as they need full council sign off to be implemented.
The portion of council tax dedicated to funding Suffolk Constabulary will increase by six percent in April.
East Suffolk Council is the only district-level council in Suffolk not to approve a 100 percent maximum council tax cut for claimants of working age council tax reduction for 2023/24.
The maximum council tax reduction in East Suffolk will remain 91.5 percent – as it has been since April 2013.