Ceredigion council tax set to increase by three per cent (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Ceredigion council tax set to increase by three per cent

12:31pm Wednesday 9th November 2011 in News

A council tax increase of 3 per cent has been approved by Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet for next year.

That means the basic bill for 2012-13 for a Band D property will go up from £914.96 to £942.41, before adding the precept for community councils and the police.

Finance director Gwyn Jones said the provisional settlement from the Welsh Government is 1.2 per cent less than the settlement for the current year – a cut of more than £1million, and £1.4million less than the authority thought it would get.

With inflation and other costs the county council is having to find savings of nearly £3.5million next year to balance its budget.

Mr Jones said the social services department, which is expected to overspend by £1.1million in the current year, is “unlikely” to meet the savings required to make up its shortfall during the next year.

At the same time the Welsh Government expects councils to show they are protecting their education and social services budgets.

Ceredigion’s total budget will be £129.6million. About 80 per cent of that comes from the Welsh Government Settlement and about 20 per cent from council tax. The council will use just over £1million from its general balances to support the budget Mr Jones said: “The2012/13 budget has become a more challenging one than originally anticipated… It is expected that budget setting for the next few years will be equally difficult as the demand for services increases and the scope for savings reduces.”

Council leader, Cllr Keith Evans said: “We have to deliver our budget within the resources available and protect our frontline services as far as possible. There is a financial crisis in the world and money is tight all round. It is a very difficult situation.”

The Welsh Government contribution to the council will be confirmed early in December and if it varies from the provisional figure already announced any necessary adjustments will be made to the council’s budget after that.